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A man and his lady live by the LA River. They have found a nice spot under a shady tree. They do not own a traditional home but they have decorated this spot under the tree. I wave at them when I walk by on my daily hikes. They always wave back. Until today. 1/
Today, the woman was asleep on the ground in a sleeping bag. The man was sitting on a milk crate looking at her. So, I kept walking. He chased after me. I was listening to music so I didn& #39;t hear him at first. When I did, I turned. He was out of breath. I said, I& #39;m sorry. 2/
I had my headphones on. He just looked at me. His expression was of deep pain. I said, are you okay? He said nothing, but his eyes brimmed with intelligence and of tears. I said, do you need to talk? Again, he just looked at me in utter pain but with no words. 3/
So I said, my name is Katherine. What& #39;s your name? He said, Jamie. I said again, do you need to talk? We can sit down. He said, I need to cry. I said, I understand. So do I. Then we just stood there. Not sitting. Not crying. Just understanding. 4/
Finally, I said, I will check on you tomorrow. He looked at me once last time, then turned away and starting walking back to his lady and his makeshift home under a tree by a river. I& #39;m home now and I& #39;ve sitting here in my traditional house very moved by this encounter. 5/
I grew up in a home with little money and a lot of alcoholism and abuse. Jamie was not drunk. He did not appear to be an addict. He was clean, kind, intelligent. I don& #39;t know his story. I only know his lady was asleep in the middle of the day and he ached to tell me something. 6/
I was taken back to my own childhood. Sneaking out o the house when the screaming started and sleeping on lawn furniture in neighbor& #39;s backyards. When I was asked if I wanted to talk, I said nothing. I waited until I grew old enough to board a bus and leave that town. 7/
I& #39;ve come to learn we recognize each other. Those of us who& #39;ve travelled the path of dysfunction and pain. Of growing up to fast. Of circumstances beyond our control. Of adults averting their eyes and turning their heads. 8/
Tomorrow, I will check on Jamie. Today, I will wonder why we discard people like soiled clothes. Today, I will wonder why those with so much make sure others have so little. Today, I will wonder why we all don& #39;t cry when we see people sleeping by the river or on lawn furniture. /
