240604 A Great Day

Aid to a fellow man

I had an interesting day today. I walked to Aldi’s this morning to get my exercise and pick up a few groceries. It was a warm day in the seventies. People were wearing short sleeved T shirts, except for me. I’m always cold so I had a cap on, a long sleeved shirt and a hooded sweatshirt. I was dragging my little shopping cart at my normal slow pace. A homeless man was walking fast in the same direction. He was a rough looking character with bad teeth and matted hair and not so clean clothes. He slowed down and said hello. I asked if he two was shopping at Aldi’s. He replied that he was going dumpster diving, looking for some food for himself and his brother. We conversed for a bit before parting ways. I only needed three things from the store and I was out quickly. I was walking to the edge of the parking lot, looked over and he had found 2 five pound sacks of potatoes in the dumpster. He was a happy camper. He caught up to me and we began talking again. He was very pleasant to speak with as we walked along. He said he had to get going. I reached into my pocket and gave him a $10 bill. He was overjoyed with that and thanked me profusely. He then walked away. Carrying his two sacks of dumpster potatoes.

I continued on toward home and as I reached the parking lot of the apartment complex, a policeman saw me walking in the parking lot as he was making his daily drive to check on the complex. He saw me in my old clothes and the sweat shirt and stocking cap and dragging my cart. He obviously thought I was a homeless drifter in a place I did not belong. He slowly approached me and was about to stop when I gave him a big smile and my best navy salute. That satisfied him and he continued on his daily rounds.

I had a good feeling being to give a tiny bit of help to another man I did not know and likely will never see again.