Warm & Cozy

     Today when I arrived home I was chilled to the bone.  I came in my house and it was soooo warm and cozy.  Cute little dog greeted me with her little tail wagging a mile a minute.  I took said little dog out and when I came in I changed my clothes and made some tea.  Now here I sit in my favorite spot doing my one of my favorite things.  Life is pretty darned good.
     On my way home I received a text from a friend of mine.  She was approached by a homeless man who asked for some change in exchange for a couple of filthy slices of bread.  While I have to admit that we did giggle about that for a minute.  It just seemed a little silly, but then again, he was offering to give my friend something in return for her change.  I told her that maybe during these cold days we should carry pre-paid meal cards for the cafeteria because then at least he could come in out of the cold and get something hot to eat.  She thought maybe he wanted money for a drink.  Sad to think about that, but she was probably right.
     When I thought about that little man I felt sad.  It's cold outside.  I don't think it ever made it out of the 30's today.  In fact, if we have any precipitation it would probably be snow.  I don't know about you but I HATE to be cold.  I wouldn't last a minute outside if we lost our home.  Cold hurts.  Some people say that homeless people chose to live that way.  That might be true in some cases but I don't think it's true for everyone.  The ones that are outside and don't want to be are the ones that I feel for.  It has to be a hard life.  Sleeping on the sidewalk with little or nothing to cover you up.  In Portland, that  has miserable written all over it.  Right now, we are lucky because the weather is dry, but if it were raining or worse yet snowing or sleeting, well that puts a whole new twist on things.  There are shelters here, nice ones, but they fill up fast.  Then what?
     I only say this because in the mail this week and also before Thanksgiving we received a letter from the Portland Rescue Mission.  Just a little bit of money goes a long way I've found.  Whenever I encounter a homeless person I always direct them there.  Those folks do good work.  They try very hard to help people reclaim their lives especially the ones who want help.  Ever since I've lived on my own I've always thought that we are all one or two steps away from a similar fate.  An overwhelming medical bill or the loss of a job in these hard times could start a downward spiral that might bottom out on the streets of Tigard, or Portland, or where ever.  So as you read this little message consider your surroundings.  Your warm house or apartment, your hot dinner, warm shower and cozy bed.  We all deserve that don't you think?  When those letters from the Rescue Mission in your town come, think about my friend's little man with the dirty bread.  Maybe slip $5 in an envelope and send it in.  What would happen if everyone who got that letter did that?  How about if we find out.  Cheers!