Jul. 28th, 2010 02:27 pm
New Bob / -that thing I do-
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mizarchivistSo, there's this thing I do---
For those who've not been brought up to speed: Exposition:
I've been working downtown for over 10 years now. Beacon Hill/Park Street is my neighborhood and you get to see the same faces, not just office workers, but street people. There's always some level of OMG-crazy- the people who might not be the safest to approach. Then there's the less crazy (still some, probably)- who are out there now and probably not going to return to "normal" lives. I suspect if railroads were still in abundance, some of them would be a Bum the Rod /Piping the Stem- (as Utah Phillips would say): not the worst thing to be, ever. Anyway- Seeing these people every day, given my natural propensities and the charitable nature of my employer, helping these people out has become my own personal mission. I don't have a convenient, compact way to describe this. I don't want anything from them. I'm not being evangelical at them. I provide food (or in this heat- water, too) and honest human contact. First, there was Bob Wright. He died almost a year ago now, and he taught me a lot about those lost, that the compassion and conversation is more important much of the time than the food. Food for the mind, please. When he died, I vowed to keep doing... something. That I had to stop focusing on just one person, though. It's hard not to have people I really go out of my way for. So, Richie and Vera get most of my offerings, but in the meantime, I try to say hi and be friendly to the others.
The thing about this... well, mission, for lack of better word- I am reluctant to talk about it much. I haven't quite figured it out, but it feels akin to religion/politics. It's my own hobbyhorse and I feel like it would be easy to sound holier than thou or... something? Does that make sense? So, I'm cautious on the chatter, even though it's a thing I spend a fair bit of time thinking about.
Here we get to the new bit- I met a new Bob today, officially. I'd seen him a few times near the State House. Well, another hot day- 86 according to Weather Bug as I write this. New Bob was perched in the shade asking if someone would buy him water. Ah, yes. Yes, I will do that. So, this Bob- also a vet- he's old enough, I'd say Vietnam. He had on a baseball hat that said "Ferengi" on it--- woah. Really? From Las Vegas, where he'd been living for a while. Neat! I have no idea if I'll see him more often, but hearing he's another Bob just tore at me a bit.
For those who've not been brought up to speed: Exposition:
I've been working downtown for over 10 years now. Beacon Hill/Park Street is my neighborhood and you get to see the same faces, not just office workers, but street people. There's always some level of OMG-crazy- the people who might not be the safest to approach. Then there's the less crazy (still some, probably)- who are out there now and probably not going to return to "normal" lives. I suspect if railroads were still in abundance, some of them would be a Bum the Rod /Piping the Stem- (as Utah Phillips would say): not the worst thing to be, ever. Anyway- Seeing these people every day, given my natural propensities and the charitable nature of my employer, helping these people out has become my own personal mission. I don't have a convenient, compact way to describe this. I don't want anything from them. I'm not being evangelical at them. I provide food (or in this heat- water, too) and honest human contact. First, there was Bob Wright. He died almost a year ago now, and he taught me a lot about those lost, that the compassion and conversation is more important much of the time than the food. Food for the mind, please. When he died, I vowed to keep doing... something. That I had to stop focusing on just one person, though. It's hard not to have people I really go out of my way for. So, Richie and Vera get most of my offerings, but in the meantime, I try to say hi and be friendly to the others.
The thing about this... well, mission, for lack of better word- I am reluctant to talk about it much. I haven't quite figured it out, but it feels akin to religion/politics. It's my own hobbyhorse and I feel like it would be easy to sound holier than thou or... something? Does that make sense? So, I'm cautious on the chatter, even though it's a thing I spend a fair bit of time thinking about.
Here we get to the new bit- I met a new Bob today, officially. I'd seen him a few times near the State House. Well, another hot day- 86 according to Weather Bug as I write this. New Bob was perched in the shade asking if someone would buy him water. Ah, yes. Yes, I will do that. So, this Bob- also a vet- he's old enough, I'd say Vietnam. He had on a baseball hat that said "Ferengi" on it--- woah. Really? From Las Vegas, where he'd been living for a while. Neat! I have no idea if I'll see him more often, but hearing he's another Bob just tore at me a bit.
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I admire this - greatly.
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I mean! I am a hugely privileged person with an almost always full fridge. And it SUCKS that these people don't have anyone or anywhere meaningful to go.
Again, thanks.
*smile*
*hugs*
Re: *smile*
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But hey, quick today-thought. I have to go to Ann Taylor in Fanueil Hall at some point and look at a particular dress that may or may not become The Wedding Dress. Would you be willing to come with? I'd be heading over to the Park Street area around 12:30ish.
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