Sometimes I Write

Last night was our weekly pool night and afterward me and a few of my former street friends (still my friends- they just have homes now) fed everyone Dominos pizza. I met a few new people at Shakespeares in between the drama. Two of my street friends (who are married) got in a fight because the guy sold the girl’s bike to buy marijuana. Same friends have a dog who snarled and tried to lunge at me as I tried to comfort the girl after the guy took off. I have been very intimidated by dogs since my dog attack when I was fifteen that left me with a scar down the side of my face next to my right ear. You’d never notice it if my hair isn’t pulled back. The dog was tied up and the girl grabbed him and calmed him down, but I was still shaking a bit and backed away from her. Let me just say there will be problems if the dog ever gets loose and hurts me or my kids. If I don’t kill it myself, Benny will. Enough said about that.

Benny was playing pool with a guy and I walked over to meet him. Another girl said, “That’s Benny’s other half”. It just struck me as funny because it’s been so long since I’ve been called that. I don’t know if she didn’t remember my name or if she was just establishing our relationship, or what. Maybe that’s just the way they say it.

Our teammate George had brought a book for another street friend called, “So you’re going to be a Dad”. I talked to the guy for a few minutes and I was taken aback and proud of him as he told me how nervous he is about the baby arriving in May. He is scared, but he wants to do things right and he really wants to be a good dad. He’s making changes in his life to get ready for that, and he spent a good part of the night sitting at the bar reading that book. I also caught him watching Benny playing and wrestling with Max and Zoe during his breaks in shooting pool.

When we were at the park during the feeding, a man came with several bags of warm clothes. He saw my kids running around and came up to me to let me know that he had a whole bag of children’s clothes I could go through. I smiled and thanked him then introduced myself and told him I was part of the staff. He was very friendly and he gave us the whole bag of clothes to take to a street family we know that recently got an apartment. I think he was disappointed that the kids weren’t flocking around to get the clothes. I explained that they probably wouldn’t because it was an unusually warm night. On the nights it’s freezing they do take anything and everything they can get to stay warm. I told him not to be discouraged. That’s twice I’ve been mistaken for being homeless. My friend Kevin says I should wear that as a badge of honor, and I am glad that I am part of the crowd enough that he thought I blended in well. I did have a few of the guys hugging me and draping their arm around my shoulder. haha I had my makeup on this time, but I was wearing a fleece over my Dry Bones t-shirt, which is one of the ways other people who volunteer know who the staff is. I would have thought me handing out pizza would have been a clue too. Oh well, there are worse things in life than being mistaken for being homeless by someone who wants to help the homeless!

I was informed by one of my new street friends that I met last night that I HAVE to bring my kids to the Christmas party at Sox’s place today. Sox is another guy downtown that has a drop in center for at risk youth. We are partnering with him and another organization, Urban Peak, to provide a party, food, and gifts for the homeless youth of Denver. I’ve already peeled, boiled, and mashed 20 pounds of potatoes today, and now I have the privilege of delivering them myself instead of just sending them along with Benny. I didn’t think I was supposed to come to the party, not that anyone said I couldn’t. It’s just hard to know what I should bring my kids to and what I shouldn’t because they would be in the way. So I’m off to celebrate Christmas with our street friends and give my kids an example of generosity and love for others. I am truly a blessed woman!!!