I am in Kalamazoo, MI at a McDonald’s across from the bus station. At 7:10 a.m. people traveling by bus are coming in and out for coffee or an egg McMuffin. I’ve been approached several times by panhandlers hitting on everyone with a suitcase or a samdwocj. If my mother were here she would surely say: “There but for the grace of God go I.” I never embraced her religion but she was a righteous soul; never let me forget that this life is fragile and that being smart and working hard is not enough when you’ve been dealt a bad hand. Yes, there but for the grace of good Karma, that could be me.
I belong to a travel club where members offer up their spare room to strangers (fellow club members) who need an affordable place to sleep while on the road. Last night I stayed with a retired biology teacher and his wife. Their home is 98 years old, brick two story with arched doorways and mahogany woodwork. The stairway railing to upstairs was so massive and detailed I couldn’t help stroking it like a favorite pet. She had already left for the morning when I got up at 6:15 and he was sleeping in. There is no formal charge but it is understood to leave a $15 gratuity. That way you cover the cost of changing sheets with no records or bookwork.
I can’t get over the people here. They all had a mother who probably loved them, had high hopes for their future and would have been crushed to see them now. Nobody sets out to be a failure and they make choices that at the time, feel like their best chance to succeed at whatever the day brings. Even though I’ve turned away from Christian faith there is wisdom scattered through the bible’s stories. “Judge not lest ye be judged.” If not for the thousands of other people’s finger prints on my story I might be panhandling here as well.
The sun just popped out from clouds to the east and I’ll think of it as a good omen. I have stuff to do and I’ll get out on the road. The truck is running well and I’m not hungry yet. Good karma.
I belong to a travel club where members offer up their spare room to strangers (fellow club members) who need an affordable place to sleep while on the road. Last night I stayed with a retired biology teacher and his wife. Their home is 98 years old, brick two story with arched doorways and mahogany woodwork. The stairway railing to upstairs was so massive and detailed I couldn’t help stroking it like a favorite pet. She had already left for the morning when I got up at 6:15 and he was sleeping in. There is no formal charge but it is understood to leave a $15 gratuity. That way you cover the cost of changing sheets with no records or bookwork.
I can’t get over the people here. They all had a mother who probably loved them, had high hopes for their future and would have been crushed to see them now. Nobody sets out to be a failure and they make choices that at the time, feel like their best chance to succeed at whatever the day brings. Even though I’ve turned away from Christian faith there is wisdom scattered through the bible’s stories. “Judge not lest ye be judged.” If not for the thousands of other people’s finger prints on my story I might be panhandling here as well.
The sun just popped out from clouds to the east and I’ll think of it as a good omen. I have stuff to do and I’ll get out on the road. The truck is running well and I’m not hungry yet. Good karma.
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