When I lived in Logan I hardly ever had any interaction with homeless people, I hardly ever saw them. So when I used to visit Salt Lake I would always be passing out money to the homeless because I felt so bad for them. Don't get me wrong, I still feel bad for them. I think its awful and very very sad, but I usually see at least 10 a day so the novelty has kind of warn off for me. They are everywhere, grocery stores, the library, the movies, restaurants, one even cornered Lisa at the teller window at the bank last week. How are you going to say you have no money when you are at the bank....very sneaky. Like I said, everywhere. So Lisa just called me about her latest interaction with the homeless. Can you tell she was a Social Work major?
Homeless man: Can you spare a dollar or 2 for a subway sandwich
Lisa: You are eating at Subway?
HM: Hopefully.
Lisa: Why don't you have any money?
HM: Because I don't have a job.
Lisa: Why don't you have a job?
HM: Because I got fired.
Lisa: Why don't you have a new job?
HM: I have been looking.
Lisa then felt bad for making him feel stupid and tossed him a dollar and said,
Lisa: You promise you are going to use this for Subway?
HM: I hope to, it will depend on how much more money I can get.
11 comments:
The pan handlers are bad there. It is sad, sometimes I give, sometimes I don't. We have some professional here in Visalia. I see the same man out everyday. Sometimes he even works the same intersection and I think hey man don't you realize we saw you here yesterday and the day before and the day before!!
Hey Kate - This is Amy (Jordan's Mom) I love your title of this post from Michael McLean's song. Megan & Shauna were obsessed with that once! There are so many homeless people near my office. It is so frustrating when you try to go to the bank and they swarm your car or they stand outside the gas station when you go in to get a soda. It makes me nuts!!
Hi Katie! I got you blog of of Laurie Dockendorf Miller... FUnny Funny Funny like only I would expect!!! So are you going to add me to your "Orem friends?"
P.S. I had a friend like that when she first moved here, she eventually got over her obsession with helping them and just becamed annoyed (like the rest of us) when she realized they were taking advantage of her.
you can find my blog I think on Nicoles...
I have issues with homeless people. While I do feel bad for them, I think they could be doing better things with their time than tormenting people doing there daily errands. Lisa should have told him about D.I. No offense to the people that work at DI but lets be honest they'll hire anyone.
the homeless people in salt lake are aggressive and MEAN! i had one of the craziest experiences with one and my co-worker offered our company's fresh left over never touched muffins to a homeless man and he straight slapped her in the face! you gotta watch out for them.
i have found that in boston the homeless people are much nicer! i was actually going to do a post on it.
i LOVE that lisa called him out on everything and asked lots of questions. classic!
Salt Lake's got nothing on New York! One of my favorite cases while getting out of the subway was a lady pan-handling while on her cell phone. Sorry, but I'm not going to help you pay your phone bill, ma'am.
it's true. they are everywhere. i have had many an awkward moments. the other day i gave a kid 4 dollars for a shower. what do you think the chances are that he spent it on an actually water shower vs. a cocaine shower or something fun like that. then shortly after i gave a cookie to an angry looking kid sitting on the steps of the library because i thought he might be thinking of shooting everyone and the cookie might change his mind...
this is long. i should have just made a blog post of it! i'm so glad you came over the other day! that was so much laughing and fun..
great post. it reminded me of a time when i worked in downtown slc and a homeless guy asked if he could have a bite of the pasta salad i had brought in a tupperware for lunch. what do you say to that? money is one thing- but a bite of my lunch? don't judge me... but i said no.
we miss you!
We've got our fair share of stories too. Ben and I once made the tragic mistake of offering a HW a ride. She was clearly stoned and drunk and stinky -and the ride wasn't enough, she wanted $ for ciggys {or 'fags', as my politically correct neighbor Ray calls them. Not old Ray, 'New Ray'... kinda like New Grammie...}
Oh my goodness!! This sounds like the same man that cornered us on our way in to Pei Wai last week! Asked us for the same thing! T, C & I just told him we didn't have cash (which is mostly true...) and walked in to eat our hot chinese dinner. Oh the joys! I'm glad that the "homeless" factor has worn off on you. I mean, I feel bad for 'em, but of all the states in the continental U.S. Utah has the highest number of assistance programs!! :) ok i'm done. you're great.
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