Flying a Sign

I have a new respect and also a greater distaste for sign flyers. These are the people sitting on the corner or street side with the cardboard sign that says "Homeless Please Help" or something along those lines. A few of my favorites I've seen are: "Bet you can't hit me with a Quarter." "I'm having visions of a cheeseburger." and "Bet you a dollar you'll read my sign."  Thing is, I don't agree with giving sign flyers money. 99% of them use them for an addiction of some kind. If you feel the need to give them something go buy them a dollar hamburger and give it to them. I do respect these people only because the ones that are dedicated to it are really dedicated. Also known as panhandling I feel that this is a horrible way for homeless people to take advantage of other people. Most of them treat "sign flying" as their full time job. They could be looking for a job. But, people will do what they do to get what they want the easy way.

Lonely Nights and Yet Not Alone

The other night I was missing my husband so much! I was so lonely and yet surrounded by people on the street and in the shelter. Hard times seem harder when you are Lonely. Especially when you are not alone.

Types of People

There are to my reconning 4 types of people who are homeless. Sure there are categories in the types but let me go over just the basics. 1st type of person is the "normal" person. These are the people who are here and actually trying to get out of the situation. 2nd type is the "complacent". These guys are not happy with where they are, however, they are not trying very hard to get out of the spot they are in now. 3rd are the "addicts" they are homeless because they use every penny they get to score. Whether that score be hardcore drugs, a little bit of pot, or alcohol they are all addicts. The 4th type is the "touched" these are the crazies, the ones who talk to themselves, there are those who scream from the corner at passing cars. No matter the type they are still people and I thank those who help them all, myself included.

Finding Food

One of the first things you need to know is where you can find food. Free food. Not out of a garbage can! I was hungry. I hadn't eaten a meal in three days. Sure I'd had food. What little I could piece from the last bit of money I had. But what I needed was a meal. So while I was at the library (wonderful place to waste the day by the way) I was online and searched where I could find a meal. One place did come up. Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So I set out to get myself a meal. I took what bus transportation I could and walked the rest of the way. I got there after they finished serving. I was so dishearted. They still gave me a little bit to eat. Some pastries they couldn't serve at the meal. So I was still fed but I still wanted a meal. I found out when they served dinner. "Come Back at 6:50pm" and so I did. Dinner service was different than lunch service. They ask you to sit through a "church service" which is interesting and fun. I came from a Mormon background and so this was something I was not used to. I enjoyed it. Then after they excuse the women, children, and crippled first. It was such a good thing I cried after out of happiness of actually having a full stomach! I now frequent the mission for meals and have gotten to know several of the people staying there. More stories about them and others coming soon.

Remembering the First Night

I don't remember the date but I remember how I was feeling. I had known the day would come. It had been coming for a few weeks, however I had held it off by using what money I had left from my last paycheck to get a room for a week, then by staying at a friends for another few days. No matter how long I tried to deny it I knew it was coming and I was scared no terrified! I put on a brave face cause I knew that my husband would be worried. I didn't want him to worry. I had called ahead to get the basics of what I had to do, but actually being at the door was a different feeling all together. It felt like I had stepped into the twilight zone and I was not in my own body. I was directed to the right doors by some rather scary looking people. Was told to push the button on the wall so they would open the door for me. I had already started to cry by the time I got to the front counter. The lady behind the desk asked me if I'd ever been here before. I half sobbed out a negative. She asked me my name, date of birth, social security number, where I had stayed the night before, what the zip code of the place I had lived the last 90 days consecutively, race, gender and a few others that were kind of obvious. She told me I was all set gave me a scratchy wool blanket, showed me where the bathroom was, and showed me where I would be sleeping. I walked into the room where there were several women already sleeping or atempting tp. I picked my spot on the floor with the two thin this-is-going-to-kill-my-back mats and scratchy wool blanket, situating my backpack as a half decent pillow. I took my shoes off got "comfortable" and just listened. You could hear slow soft breathing of the women who were asleep. You could also hear snoring. So much so I thought a train would run me over if I wasn't careful. You could also hear what sounded like a one sided phone call which was quickly quieted when someone shouted shut up. I went to the bathroom doing so quickly as I had no desire to leave my stuff in a room full of strangers. And tried to go to sleep. I cried for a little longer silently to myself texted my hubby to tell him I was fine. Finally after was so emotionally drained I fell asleep soon after I wiped my eyes. That was the first night I had ever stayed in a homeless shelter.