"I have always relied on the kindness of strangers" Tennessee Williams
I received a hand-out today.
A kind man, thinking I was homeless, gave me two bananas.
Let me explain. I went to the gym around lunch today. I often forget to eat when I'm at home and it's only when I leave my house that I realize my hunger. So, I get to the gym and realize that I haven't eaten a thing and I was not going to perform at peak capacity with a growling belly. The solution, I decided, was to purchase two bananas from the produce stand down the street.
Let me explain my appearance: my unwashed hair was pulled into a messy pony-tail. I was wearing ratty, old yoga pants with a free, 'I donated blood' tee shirt.
And, house shoes.
(my gym shoes were in my gym bag, of course)
So, I park behind the produce stand, and walk around to the front. I find the bananas, take two off the bunch and ask the man how much they cost. I had a dollar in my pocket and was prepared to pay his asking price. After hesitating and assessing my appearance, he informed me that they were 25 cents.
"Oh...okay...I have a quarter in my car"
However, before I could turn towards the exit, he told me that I could just have the bananas. For free.
"Thank you, sir. But, really, I have a quarter in my car"
By this time, though, I'm starting to realize that he doesn't believe I HAVE a car. Nor a home, most probably.
I pull a dirty, crumpled dollar from my pocket and show the man.
"See...I have money"
But, not wanting to take the last dollar from a poor, homeless woman, he declined my money, told me to take the bananas ("It's a hot day") and then said to me what people typically say to the homeless:
"God Bless You"
I was very humbled, very embarrassed, and feeling quite bad for taking the merchandise of a man that, I suspect, makes less money than I do.
Not knowing what else to do, however, I simply smiled at him, swallowed my pride and said "No, God bless you".
Perhaps, I'll become a regular customer of his.
A paying customer, of course.
(And, perhaps, I'll purchase some new gym clothes....)
A kind man, thinking I was homeless, gave me two bananas.
Let me explain. I went to the gym around lunch today. I often forget to eat when I'm at home and it's only when I leave my house that I realize my hunger. So, I get to the gym and realize that I haven't eaten a thing and I was not going to perform at peak capacity with a growling belly. The solution, I decided, was to purchase two bananas from the produce stand down the street.
Let me explain my appearance: my unwashed hair was pulled into a messy pony-tail. I was wearing ratty, old yoga pants with a free, 'I donated blood' tee shirt.
And, house shoes.
(my gym shoes were in my gym bag, of course)
So, I park behind the produce stand, and walk around to the front. I find the bananas, take two off the bunch and ask the man how much they cost. I had a dollar in my pocket and was prepared to pay his asking price. After hesitating and assessing my appearance, he informed me that they were 25 cents.
"Oh...okay...I have a quarter in my car"
However, before I could turn towards the exit, he told me that I could just have the bananas. For free.
"Thank you, sir. But, really, I have a quarter in my car"
By this time, though, I'm starting to realize that he doesn't believe I HAVE a car. Nor a home, most probably.
I pull a dirty, crumpled dollar from my pocket and show the man.
"See...I have money"
But, not wanting to take the last dollar from a poor, homeless woman, he declined my money, told me to take the bananas ("It's a hot day") and then said to me what people typically say to the homeless:
"God Bless You"
I was very humbled, very embarrassed, and feeling quite bad for taking the merchandise of a man that, I suspect, makes less money than I do.
Not knowing what else to do, however, I simply smiled at him, swallowed my pride and said "No, God bless you".
Perhaps, I'll become a regular customer of his.
A paying customer, of course.
(And, perhaps, I'll purchase some new gym clothes....)
posted by Unknown at 12:24 PM
15 Comments:
What a great story and how interesting to be "on the other side".
Wow, that is a winner of a story! Perception is truth, as they say.
Wait, that could be misconstrued. I don't mean to imply, Emily, that you are homeless in any sort of figurative way. :)
However, for the fruit vendor, his perception was his truth at that moment...which is a perfect depiction of how we all are as humans. There we go; that's a bit clearer now. ;)
Thanks! :)
I figured I didn't have to clarify for your sake, but you never know who's watching these blogs. ;)
Your mom sounds equally great!
ha... I liked that
it's actually a picture that another doctor took of us and he just sent it to us in the mail... good times, good times
I know this is the pot calling the kettle busy, but I would love to see a new Emily post. :)
I've been gone a while too. Good to here you're still here.
I was totally singing that song in my head when I wrote the post...almost put it in there but didn't
Yes and I also was thinking...I miss Emily's posts.
Where Emily go?
Perhaps she ran away with the banana vendor who thought she was homeless.
Three months is entirely too long.
thanks for the encouragement...
no one ever really got tired of a little encouragement
and I promise I will post, as long as I can remember my login information ;)
I must confess... I didn't take the pictures
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