Two trips to the Grocery Store

Living downtown is just plain wonderful, sometimes.

This morning walking into the neighborhood grocery store, I ran into a father with his daughter.  He had a list in his hand, and she was standing nearby.  "Hello!"  You look like a Mary Poppins" -He said when he saw me. I had on my felt pull down hat with flowers!  It keeps me warm and today the weather was really cold and the wind had been blowing.

Before I could answer, he quickly said: "Linda I have stage 4 Cancer, and I begin Chemo in a few weeks".

Thunderstruck, I reached out to touch his arm, and assured him quietly I will pray for you.  Looking into his eyes I saw a look that said:  "Stage 4, that's serious."

This man later in years had become my personal hero, and to many in my afterschool class.  He had dreamed of becoming a soldier at the age of 6, and had continued on.  He retired after serving long years, and then here at. home as well.  When my afterschool kids met him and then interviewed him, they said: "We just met a real hero!"  Those in our church often spoke of him as humble and in deed he was. Now we must  pray for him, as well as his daughter and wife.

Now let's fast forward.  This afternoon it was still cold and I thought well just right for soup.  I took another short walk to the grocery store.  However, this time, a "visitor" to one of the tenants in my. building was walking back, carrying a large pack of beer.  He was indeed bundled up, and rather than walk down the blocked off area, he went into the street. He yelled at me - words were slurred and I could hear 

"F____you!  I did not do nothing."  So off he went with a huge pack of beer - and the time - 4:45 Pm!

Note: Christmas Eve some nice neighbors at another building had dropped off a basket of Christmas stuff. candy, etc.for all the residents in my building.  This same "visitor" - I HAD SEEN humped over the. basket and taking all the items to the apartment that he visits.  Later I went and knocked on the door and found the entire basket he had thrown in the trash can.  

Well, I thought let me check.  It seems that it could be a "theft" - BUT NO the CPD told me that he was a guest of a tenant that they referred to as a "funny guy", and nope.  It could be rude?

I wonder if he calling me a 'F-----" on the street could be rude to?

Lucky for me - that my first experience today was filled with grace and prayer and I only hope that I had some left over for this lost soul that visits the "funny guy" in the building, with the limited vocabulary.

Blessings as this year closes, and for the MACE.  I did take a pic of the "Visitor" from the. back - showing the large pack of beer...seems that often the management has a hard time believing that any of this happens.












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