I'd noticed an inanimate object on the path while I was out running around in the dark earlier. Later, when I went to be a crossing guard in the sunshine, I saw that it was a shopping cart. Aw, crap, I thought. I'm used to keeping the area somewhat tidy, but a shopping cart??
As I contemplated the cart and what to do with it, I noticed a few other things. Some drink cups. Then, some sleeping bags. Then, hair from someone's head sticking out of one of the bags. Still attached to the head.
They'd set up their camp in a little knook area behind the Smoking/Make-out bench (so christened from the majority of teen activity that goes on there). This is a photo from early fall. See it? The trees are now mostly bare branches, but the branches and the Smoking/Make-out bench provide a bit of shelter.
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I don't have a problem with homeless campers, but I was a bit concerned with them being right on the pathway to school. It seemed strange for them to decide to bed down at a busy intersection of a 5-lane boulevard and pedestrian path.
A few kids noticed the shopping cart. I told them there was someone sleeping back there, just keep walking or better, take the sidewalk. Later, when I took China for her beauty walk early in the afternoon, they were still there, but vertical and active. This made me hopeful that they would be gone by the time school got out.
About an hour before the afternoon bell, I checked the S/Mo bench. They'd left. No trace of them, which was nice because the S/Mo bench and surrounding "woods" is a popular area for the kids to let off some stuck-all-day-in-school steam. If they'd still been there just before the bell, I wondered if I should ask school security for advice. I really didn't want to call the fuzz.
They'd left no trace, that is, except for the flipping shopping cart. Once again, I wondered what to do with the thing. So, I'd just like to say...
Dear Val's mom and dad,
A shopping cart was left at the crosswalk today. Val saw it and became noticeably intriuged. I know he thought about bringing it home with him. I told him it would be perfectly all right if he did. In fact, I may have highly encouraged it. He's a good kid, that Val.
Apologetically lovingly in street-walking,
Abby
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17 comments:
Definitely seems like an odd place for someone to set up camp. Perhaps they couldn't make it up the hill. I know THAT feeling.
I'm sure Val's mom and dad will feel the need to repay you for your kindness. Better watch your back (yard). ;)
All the good stuff happens at your office. Nothing exciting ever happens at mine. Well... except Air Force One flew over yesterday. I didn't see it, but others did. I guess that was kind of exciting.
Very creative thinking on your part, letting that shopping cart go home with Val.
Any of us could be in that position, and without an address they can't even collect welfare or foodstamps. I'd miss having clean hair the most of all, and my heart goes out to them. I wish we could bus all of them to the white house lawn.
Kids used to have to drive to Inspiration Point.
Now they can walk to the nearest S/Mo bench.
Convenient.
The very thought of homeless people breaks my heart. But it's very strange they picked that spot to set-up camp.
Also, I think it's sweet you let Val take the shopping cart home.
So far, so good on the back yard. The only unbelonging thing I've seen was a pommeranian.
Air Force One flew over?! I hope they didn't flush.
I rarely see homeless people camping in our neighborhood. It made me wonder where they went next.
Maybe the Inspiration Point thing went out when bucket seats became the norm?
I thought it was SUH-WEET! that Val took it.
Hoodie guy. Bike lady. Motorcycle cop. Extreme crossing guard with the Russian hat. You see the most interesting things at your little cross walk. I'm sure he moved on to a better spot (or got rousted by the Po-Po). And I am sure that Val's parents appreciated the cart.
We've had people camping on our front lawn. It always seems a strange place choose, and I have to say I'm not that keen on having them around, but haven't the heart to tell them to move. So far no one has left a shopping trolley. :D
You know... you seem like a normal person, as your blog title points out, yet in your normal life, you are supplied with lots of blog fodder from your everyday surroundings that you can talk about everyday.
I'm sitting here thinking about my day and something that I can pull from it to write a blog post. No encounters with the homeless... Hmmm... I'll think of something. :)
I wondered if the Po-Po or someone else asked them to leave. The shopping cart has yet to return!
All we get on our front lawn is drug busts.
Join the crossing guards, see the world!
It's a thought. :)
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