A Season of Hope...

 

A Season of Hope…

Thanksgiving 2024

For nearly a quarter of a Century, my Holidays, along

with every day of the year, were spent on the streets, where

every day, regardless of the day or date, turns into “Just

another day”. And though, this year, they are still just

days, nothing meaningful, it is not on the streets.

This is first time spent indoors.

No, I have no one to share it with or have any

plans to be with anyone, meet anywhere and

I have not been invited anywhere, but I am

grateful to be off the streets, no matter how

temporary it may be, reflecting and

drawing up memories of love.

I will be Spending the day quietly with

Abby, Paul’s mixed breed dog. So we’ll walk

and have a Girl’s day. She loves her walks,

something she begs and pleads with

me to take her on.

The elderly gentleman I have been caring

for is currently in the hospital because I cannot

lift him. He kept falling and was unable

to get up and use the bathroom without great

help to do so. But Paul is keeping me on

at the house, for the time being.

His dad is apparently doing fine, according

to Paul and is in rehab working to be able

to get up and use the bathroom on his own.

I do not know where things are going from here…

or how long I will be there. I do not know if his dad

will be returning back to the house or not. But I

cannot lift him. He is dead weight. So, if he is

unable to get up on his own and be able to use the

bathroom on his own, he will not be coming back.

And where does that leave me? Back to the streets?

A prospect I dread. But I’m trying to keep my

hopes high and pray for the best for all.

Focus on the Good.

Being grateful to have a roof over my head

this year, especially as the weather turns. Grateful

to have mobility and a vehicle that is safe and running

well. I am grateful for the breathing space and time

away from the streets. I am grateful to have a bed

to lay on a few minutes here and there.

There will be no celebrations, not here, anyway.

No decorations. The only decoration is the

Vase of Flowers I got for the house on

my birthday. The flowers and stems are

dead, but I keep them there in the room

between the kitchen and garage.

Looking to add more flowers to it.

Like some fresh roses from the front yard,

coming up along the driveway and right

in front of the back gate. Noticed some

beauties blooming that would brighten the

place and offer a focal point of gratitude.

I know it will be much more challenging this

time around, if I am forced back to the streets;

with a much smaller vehicle, less space. But I

will adapt. And continue to breathe, or remind

myself to breathe and take another step

forward, moment by moment.

But focusing on the good, and I am Thankful for the

reprieve off the streets, having a roof over my

head, a room with a door that I can close and a

place to just Breathe for a moment.

Thanksgiving 2024

Thanksgiving 2021... On the Streets

A Note of Thanks.... Giving and Feeling

Gratitude Living on the Streets.

Thanksgiving 2021...

This is my 22^nd Thanksgiving without a home, without

any Inclusion for Thanksgiving; No invites, no Family

or friends to share it with, or Food to nourish my body.

But I have much to be grateful for, nonetheless. I have survived

Decades without a Home. Decades of not getting the rest or

nutrition my body needs. I have survived, lived through and endured

the worst of Humanity, while also being on the receiving end, on rare

occasion, of true Humanity and the healing balm of love and kindness.

Thankfully, the endless harassment I was on the receiving end of

for so long by Law Enforcement for just being present has lessened

considerably, and allowed to just BE, though there are many

occasions where my presence rubs people with the pricey homes and

all the accoutrements they have amassed for the show... still calls

the Police to “Remove that from our Sight...” encounters.

But those have lessened, as well.

I have access to a few restrooms to take care of personal

business (albeit, on the Public Movie Screen), at least during

the day. I have Mobility now in the form of a Vehicle, that puts

a roof over my head now (even though it rains inside the vehicle

whenever it rains Outside), but gives me the safety and protection

I have not had for so long. I am deeply grateful to have mobility,

safety and restroom access to help take care of the barest essentials.

Gratitude fills my heart. Nature's Embrace has helped

tremendously spending another

Holiday Season outside without a home.

As the Decades roll by, and the years add up, finding things to

be truly grateful for are becoming harder to find and fewer to

acknowledge, but I am deeply grateful to finally have some

form of Protection from the elements through the ice covered

nights and mornings, from the harsh, high-powered

winds and(mostly) from the rains. Gratitude.... Just so

Thankful to have all I have.

Thanksgiving 2021