Thanks, my dear.

It was great to meet him. And humbling.

I hope we can all get to a place where we can treat each other with dignity. A person doesn't become a non-person just because they don't have a home or food to eat - but it seems like that's the way we as a society treat them, and sometimes that filters down to we as individuals act (or don't act) towards them. Even me referring to them as "them" feels somehow wrong.

Each person has a name, and a life full of experiences. I'm writing this in the comfort of my "studio". James is probably wet, cold, and hungry somewhere nearby.

You said it happened to you too - thank you for taking action and not just looking away.

I agree. Food and water are human rights and to me it is immoral to deny them to anyone. Also, many of us understand that it isn't such a long way to any of us being in that situation. And yes when I worked in NYC I saw a woman sitting on the curb by Trinity Church. She looked dirty, her clothes were disheveled and she looked like she needed help. I went up to her and asked her if she wanted 10 dollars. She actually surprised me when she looked up and asked, "what makes you think I need money?" Of course she knew why I would think that, and I actually felt bad about asking and apologized to her. She thanked me though and said she would be alright and I hugged her. I hope she was. Perhaps James enjoyed his cup of coffee and will find somewhere safe to sleep for the night.

I hope so.

Yeah - It's strange, things happen to us/are caused by us every day, and sometimes they seem like a blessing, sometimes not. I felt that I had embarrassed James by assuming he needed and wanted my help. The posting was sort of my way of working through that, and reminding the community that a story doesn't always end the way you think it will.

You didn't have to share this story with us, but you did. You put yourself out there, first with James, and then with us, and that is the part that is so......so redemptive.