29.9.08
When You've Hit Rock Bottom
For the past 16 months, I've worked in downtown Salt Lake City just a few blocks from the homeless shelter. Needless to say, I see a lot of homeless people, and I've noticed an interesting trend among many of these down on their luck folks. While they may have lost their jobs, homes, cars, families, and friends, they hold dearly to one thing: right of way. As pedestrians traversing the busy downtown streets, on multiple occasions I have seen homeless men exercise this right to its fullest and most liberal extent. Sure, the light is red. Sure, there are 1,500 pound vehicles driving 40 mph both directions through a green light. Sure enough, one lesson from drivers ed stuck for these stalwart and determined souls, the pedestrian always has the right of way.
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2 comments:
This is funny and sad and precious, all in one thought.
Maybe they have stopped caring about preservation. "Go ahead, hit me."
Just to balance the scale a bit, Dad responded to a down-and-out man holding a sign pleading for work, any kind of work; offered him work at the shop, sweeping and cleaning up the property, gave him the address. He actually showed up, worked all of two hours and asked for his pay. Many hours of daylight left. Go figure. The time before that, quite a while ago now, as you can imagine, the guy he hired, took money from the cash register on his way out.
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