I can't stop thinking about my sweet friend Edward. He's another one of my downtown, homeless, street friends. I could really write a blog on just my experiences with my downtown friends, they are truly some of the most interesting and inspiring people I know. I keep questioning myself on whether or not I should divulge with others about them. I have this incredible urge to share all of my awesome experiences, but then again, I sometimes have to stop myself. Will it come across as "bragging" that I spend time with the "poor pitiful" homeless folk? Will I sound like I want pats on the back for doing a good deed? Well...I hope not, that's not my intention at all. I have had such neat experiences with some of them I have to maybe ask; Will their story maybe inspire someone else? Will my kids read this someday to their kids and do the same? Will someone else read this and feel as touched and overwhelmed as I do with these lessons, that are presented to me weekly, through the spirit of a homeless man? I'm hoping those that read my blog know my heart and get what is intended from it. And so my story goes....
I woke up last Saturday as I have for many many months now, at 7:15am. I jump up, get dressed, grab my bags of cans, and head downtown to meet up with Edward, my friend. Edward is a sweetheart, much like Stanley, but it has taken a bit longer to see through his walls. Somehow, I could sense from the start that Edward had a good heart. I would guess if most people saw Edward, they would see the outward appearance of a not so nice looking man, with badly corroded, decayed teeth and pocked skin. I have to add that he always looks like he's done his best to take care of himself. His hair is always neatly pulled back, and he seems to be as "together" as could be expected. He is always on time and I have never seen him intoxicated or where he seemed in an altered state of mind, ever. I met Edward last December while doing the same "project" I met my friend Stanley on. (refering to my previous blog post) Edward was walking through the alley looking in dumpsters collecting cans. After talking with him, we learned that he turns the cans in for cash at the downtown recycling center. I remember thinking to myself how many cans our family goes through in just one week, that we just so nonchalantly toss into the garbage, never to see or think about again. Pretty ironic that this man was digging through trash, on a freezing December night, to get something that we so recklessly just throw out. That's the night I decided to start saving our cans to give to Edward.
So...every Saturday, my dear Edward, meets me so I can give him the cans I've collected throughout the week. I most times have a coffee to take him too and we visit a bit. I've grown to feel a trust building between us and he's always there waiting for me as I'm pulling up. If I'm ever not going to be able to make it on Saturday or if I'm out of town, I am always sure to let Edward know the Saturday before. I would hate for him to be standing there waiting and not follow through with my word, and some Saturdays are definitely easier to do this than others.
Last Saturday it was chilly, the coldest so far since early last spring. On one hand I was hoping he'd be there, but the other hand was hoping he was somewhere warm instead. My car thermometer read 31 degrees that morning but it may have been colder throughout the night. I grabbed my cans, some pumpkin spice coffees, and headed downtown. There he was, waiting as usual, except most times there are several street people scattered around down the street and on the sidewalk too. This day, he was the only one there. I'm sure there are warmer places for them to go that's out of the wind and maybe a little more protected. Today, it was just Edward waiting for his coffee and cans. He was eager to great me as always and came up to help me unload my bags. I was happy to see him dressed in a winter coat and he had a fleece headband on that covered his ears. We stepped back so I could close the hatch to the back of my car and we visited for a second. Then he said he had something for me. He reached down into one of his bags that he already had, and pulled out a beautiful cloth lei. One that you might find at a party store. He tore off the tag ( I think he wanted me to see it had a tag :) ), and he carefully (with his bare hands) put it around my neck. Then he smiled the cutest darn smile that anybody with corroded teeth could ever smile. Heck I'd go as far to say he smiled the sweetest, cutest smile any man WITHOUT corroded teeth could smile :).
Edward gave to me.
Someone with nothing, gave to me. That is the second time a homeless person has given to me and I can't tell you how that touches me. I thought of that saying, "ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL". Edward has nothing, but he gave to me. I looked him in the eyes and thanked him as sincerely as I could.
It was cold and I was shivering standing outside receiving my gift from my friend. I was glad he was dressed warm but it was still cold. The fact that his hands were bare stood out to me because my hands are always cold. I asked him if he had gloves. He looked down at his hands and said that he did, but he had given them to a man down the street. He pointed down the block. He said the man was in a wheelchair and had none. He was rowing his chair with bare hands so Edward have him his gloves to keep his hands warm.
Edward gave to a man in a wheelchair with no gloves.
I also want to add to this story that Edward has NEVER asked me for anything. He's never asked me for money, change, anything. He didn't even ever ask me for
coffee or my cans. One time I had asked him if he needed anything, and he was very embarrassed. I don't think he would ever tell me if he did need something. I have built a trust with Edward and I know he wouldn't take advantage of me. Last Saturday, I got to witness a portion of his giving heart, twice in one day, and it melted mine.
Just like I've said about Stanley and the others, it's tough leaving Edward outside on these cold days and driving back home in my new car blaring the heat and anticipating what yummy treat I'm going to eat when I get home. Edward gives me more than I could EVER give him. He too has shown me to look past the world's definition of beauty, see through a somewhat offensive exterior, and truly view the heart that hides inside the dirty old coat wondering the streets, collecting cans.
So, next Saturday I'll wake up at 7:15am, get dressed, grab my bag of cans, coffees, and a warm pair of gloves to give to my friend Edward.
***If anyone wants to save their cans for me to pick up, I will make sure they get to Edward. A special thank-you to my special friends who already save for him.***
I woke up last Saturday as I have for many many months now, at 7:15am. I jump up, get dressed, grab my bags of cans, and head downtown to meet up with Edward, my friend. Edward is a sweetheart, much like Stanley, but it has taken a bit longer to see through his walls. Somehow, I could sense from the start that Edward had a good heart. I would guess if most people saw Edward, they would see the outward appearance of a not so nice looking man, with badly corroded, decayed teeth and pocked skin. I have to add that he always looks like he's done his best to take care of himself. His hair is always neatly pulled back, and he seems to be as "together" as could be expected. He is always on time and I have never seen him intoxicated or where he seemed in an altered state of mind, ever. I met Edward last December while doing the same "project" I met my friend Stanley on. (refering to my previous blog post) Edward was walking through the alley looking in dumpsters collecting cans. After talking with him, we learned that he turns the cans in for cash at the downtown recycling center. I remember thinking to myself how many cans our family goes through in just one week, that we just so nonchalantly toss into the garbage, never to see or think about again. Pretty ironic that this man was digging through trash, on a freezing December night, to get something that we so recklessly just throw out. That's the night I decided to start saving our cans to give to Edward.
So...every Saturday, my dear Edward, meets me so I can give him the cans I've collected throughout the week. I most times have a coffee to take him too and we visit a bit. I've grown to feel a trust building between us and he's always there waiting for me as I'm pulling up. If I'm ever not going to be able to make it on Saturday or if I'm out of town, I am always sure to let Edward know the Saturday before. I would hate for him to be standing there waiting and not follow through with my word, and some Saturdays are definitely easier to do this than others.
Last Saturday it was chilly, the coldest so far since early last spring. On one hand I was hoping he'd be there, but the other hand was hoping he was somewhere warm instead. My car thermometer read 31 degrees that morning but it may have been colder throughout the night. I grabbed my cans, some pumpkin spice coffees, and headed downtown. There he was, waiting as usual, except most times there are several street people scattered around down the street and on the sidewalk too. This day, he was the only one there. I'm sure there are warmer places for them to go that's out of the wind and maybe a little more protected. Today, it was just Edward waiting for his coffee and cans. He was eager to great me as always and came up to help me unload my bags. I was happy to see him dressed in a winter coat and he had a fleece headband on that covered his ears. We stepped back so I could close the hatch to the back of my car and we visited for a second. Then he said he had something for me. He reached down into one of his bags that he already had, and pulled out a beautiful cloth lei. One that you might find at a party store. He tore off the tag ( I think he wanted me to see it had a tag :) ), and he carefully (with his bare hands) put it around my neck. Then he smiled the cutest darn smile that anybody with corroded teeth could ever smile. Heck I'd go as far to say he smiled the sweetest, cutest smile any man WITHOUT corroded teeth could smile :).
Edward gave to me.
Someone with nothing, gave to me. That is the second time a homeless person has given to me and I can't tell you how that touches me. I thought of that saying, "ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL". Edward has nothing, but he gave to me. I looked him in the eyes and thanked him as sincerely as I could.
It was cold and I was shivering standing outside receiving my gift from my friend. I was glad he was dressed warm but it was still cold. The fact that his hands were bare stood out to me because my hands are always cold. I asked him if he had gloves. He looked down at his hands and said that he did, but he had given them to a man down the street. He pointed down the block. He said the man was in a wheelchair and had none. He was rowing his chair with bare hands so Edward have him his gloves to keep his hands warm.
Edward gave to a man in a wheelchair with no gloves.
I also want to add to this story that Edward has NEVER asked me for anything. He's never asked me for money, change, anything. He didn't even ever ask me for
coffee or my cans. One time I had asked him if he needed anything, and he was very embarrassed. I don't think he would ever tell me if he did need something. I have built a trust with Edward and I know he wouldn't take advantage of me. Last Saturday, I got to witness a portion of his giving heart, twice in one day, and it melted mine.
Just like I've said about Stanley and the others, it's tough leaving Edward outside on these cold days and driving back home in my new car blaring the heat and anticipating what yummy treat I'm going to eat when I get home. Edward gives me more than I could EVER give him. He too has shown me to look past the world's definition of beauty, see through a somewhat offensive exterior, and truly view the heart that hides inside the dirty old coat wondering the streets, collecting cans.
So, next Saturday I'll wake up at 7:15am, get dressed, grab my bag of cans, coffees, and a warm pair of gloves to give to my friend Edward.
***If anyone wants to save their cans for me to pick up, I will make sure they get to Edward. A special thank-you to my special friends who already save for him.***
