My Friends

These are my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Lillie. Faraway Grandma and I see them every day when we walk on the bike path. They live in the bushes there, I just found out yesterday. They say he lost his wallet with his Oregon ID in it and now he cannot pick up his disability checks. He went to DMV for help and they said no SSI# no ID. That is the same way they treated Rachel!

My friends come to my business every day and very politely ask for cans and bottles to turn in and I save them for them. I had lots to give them after our family reunion!

Yesterday there was bear poop, full of blackberries in several places on the bike path. Mrs. Lillie was scared because they sleep in the bushes - that is how I found out. Today, I went through my coin jar and gave them $10.00 worth of quarters. Perhaps they will buy alcohol with it. Perhaps food, perhaps a shower. It is none of my business. If I could, I would bring them in to my house or let them sleep in my car but I have to be practical, don't I? The lady cried and hugged me and part of me felt good that I had been able to do something and part of me worried about head lice. A third part of me was disgusted with myself for both reactions.

I know one thing. I have been worried for quite a while now about losing everything we have, but these two people, not so very different, have nothing to worry about losing, because they have nothing left to lose.