I am sorry I got I apologize.<\/span><\/p>\n Thursday, September 5th<\/sup>.\u00a0 <\/span>Having a busy day \u2013 filling up the pantry first So, when I filled the I am sorry.<\/span><\/p>\n But instead of stewing, I took \u201cHello!\u201d I said loudly as I You were a stranger.\u00a0 <\/span>You looked gentle.\u00a0 <\/span>And the large bag on your back, coupled with I asked if there was \u201cToiletries?\u00a0 <\/span>What do you mean by toiletries?\u201d you asked \u201cOh, like toothpaste.\u00a0 <\/span>Or deodorant,\u201d I told you.<\/span><\/p>\n You didn\u2019t start giving me \u201cI want to explain\u2026\u201d you Fire.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ah, my suspicion of not \u201cThat\u2019s ok!\u201d I replied.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you have access to a microwave?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n You shook your head no.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI am not living on the street, but, you \u201cI understand, no problem You looked at me, very I rushed down to the You were.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHere, I brought some Can of chicken \u2013 yes.<\/span><\/p>\n Can of Spam \u2013 oh, you told Can opener?<\/span><\/p>\n Ah, You I When \u201cTake You You You Ahhhh \u2013 outer space.\u00a0 <\/span>Peace.\u00a0 When I showed you the can
\nfrustrated by you before I even met you.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthing in the morning and while on short breaks from work \u2013 but I can\u2019t seem to keep
\nup<\/i>.\u00a0 <\/span>Like, every time I fill it, as
\nsoon as I come back inside, I see another pair of legs and feet in front of the
\nopen pantry (legs and feet are all we can see from inside the house).<\/span><\/p>\n
\npantry and someone came to get food immediately<\/b> after I came back
\ninside, then when YOU came not 2 minutes after that, I was a bit frustrated.<\/span><\/p>\n
\na deep breath and went outside into the sunshine.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\ncrossed the yard to the pantry, so as to warn you that I was on the way and not
\nstartle you.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthe knit stocking cap on this warm autumn-ish day made me think, \u201cHmmm, I am
\nguessing this person is unhoused.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nanything you didn\u2019t see in the pantry that you needed.\u00a0 <\/span>You stared at me a bit blankly, so I gave
\nsome examples.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know, like canned
\nmeat, vegetables, fruit, drinks, meals you can just heat up\u2026\u00a0 <\/span>Or toiletries,\u201d I explained.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ngenuinely.<\/span><\/p>\n
\na list of what you would like.\u00a0 <\/span>Instead,
\nyou looked at me with gentle eyes and we stood a bit in silence (well, as
\nsilent as a busy corner can be with cars and buses whizzing by).<\/span><\/p>\n
\nstarted.\u00a0 <\/span>You didn\u2019t sound embarrassed,
\nbut it felt like you needed to clarify.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI
\ndon\u2019t have FIRE yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nhaving housing was correct.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nknow, living<\/i>\u2026\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nat all,\u201d I told you, hoping that you could sense that it really was not<\/i>
\nsomething I would judge you on.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWould
\nit be ok if I go inside and get a few things you might like?\u00a0 <\/span>I will bring them out and you can choose what
\nyou would like\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nsurprised and perhaps overwhelmed.\u00a0 <\/span>I
\nsmiled, told you to please wait 2 minutes and that I would return.<\/span><\/p>\n
\npantry storage area and quickly looked for items that I thought would be good
\nfor you.\u00a0 <\/span>Canned meats.\u00a0 <\/span>Canned fruit.\u00a0
\n<\/span>Crackers.\u00a0 <\/span>Peanut butter.\u00a0 <\/span>Raisins.\u00a0
\n<\/span>Fruit cups.\u00a0 <\/span>Chapstick.\u00a0 <\/span>A can opener.\u00a0
\n<\/span>Drinks.\u00a0 <\/span>And I ran back outside,
\nhoping you would still be there.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthings I thought you might like.\u00a0 <\/span>I will
\nshow them to you one by one.\u00a0 <\/span>Just say
\nyes or no if you want them, I promise I won\u2019t have my feelings hurt if you say
\nno,\u201d I explained before started the \u201cshow and tell\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nme you hadn\u2019t had Spam in a long time.\u00a0 <\/span>You
\ndebated it, but it went in the yes pile.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthis is where you opened up.\u00a0 <\/span>This is
\nwhere I got to know you.\u00a0 <\/span>Thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nexplained that you didn\u2019t want the can opener.\u00a0
\n<\/span>You couldn\u2019t quite put it into words, but I believe you were telling me
\nthat you don\u2019t need excess<\/i>.\u00a0 <\/span>You are
\na minimalist.\u00a0 <\/span>And later during our
\nconversation you made such a brilliant point about how people get so attached
\nto things<\/i> that we miss the opportunities in front of us to interact with
\nhumans<\/u><\/i>.\u00a0 <\/span>I so agree.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthink you wanted the interaction more than the food, really.\u00a0 <\/span>Sure, you took a few items, but honestly, not
\nmuch.\u00a0 <\/span>When I showed you the small box of
\nraisins, you asked if I knew anything that raisins were good for.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, I think they might help you poop\u2026\u201d I said.\u00a0 <\/span>You grinned and put your hand out to accept
\nthe raisins.\u00a0 <\/span>(I hope I was right with
\nthat advice.\u00a0 <\/span>I am afraid to google
\nit.\u00a0 <\/span>I might have had it backwards\u2026\u00a0 <\/span>If they make you constipated, I apologize
\nagain\u2026)<\/span><\/p>\n
\nI held up the Mint Girl Scout cookies you got that glimmer in your eye that so
\nmany of us do when we see the recognizable green box.\u00a0 <\/span>Only, you were not excited for you<\/u> to
\nhave them, but rather, you knew a person who would really like those.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nthem to the person!\u201d I encouraged.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt
\ncan be a gift!!\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nconsidered it, but declined.\u00a0 <\/span>You know,
\nminimalist and all.\u00a0 <\/span>Plus, as you
\nexplained, \u201cI don\u2019t have any storage, no shelves\u201d.\u00a0 <\/span>Yup \u2013 carrying your life in the big red pack.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwere concerned about me.\u00a0 <\/span>When you asked
\nif other people came here for food, I said yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.\u00a0 <\/span>You explained how some people who come here
\nmight have mental health issues \u2013 maybe PTSD.\u00a0
\n<\/span>You asked was I sure<\/i> I wanted to have so many people around here?\u00a0 <\/span>I smiled.\u00a0
\n<\/span>\u201cYes, I am sure.\u00a0 <\/span>This pantry has
\nbeen here for 3 \u00bd years.\u00a0 <\/span>I have met lots<\/b>
\nof people!\u00a0 <\/span>And yes, some people do have
\nmental health issues.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s why I am
\ncareful to say \u2018Hello!\u2019 from waaaay over there,\u201d I pointed, \u201cSo that I do not
\nstartle anyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwant a job.\u00a0 <\/span>Are looking for work.\u00a0 <\/span>You told me about something you like to mention
\nin job interviews:\u00a0 <\/span>I would like a job
\nwhere they send me into outer space.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Quiet.\u00a0 <\/span>Shining galaxies all
\naround you.\u00a0 <\/span>Wrapped in infinity.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nof mangoes, you hesitated.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMangoes are
\ndelicious!\u201d I encouraged.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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