As I begin writing this blog, I'm not sure if Mickey is missing or laying low for some reason I don't know. I've spoken to several people who say they have seen her as late as this past Tuesday (and maybe Thursday - yesterday of this writing). It's hard to know what to think and do to find her or to give her whatever space she needs for whatever purpose she has.I just hope she's safe.
The search for Mickey yesterday took a fascinating and wonderful path as I visited with Anna Batten (Yes, she is an outrageously distant relative.) of "Never Give Up - Heaven Can Wait" two areas I had not yet seen up close. (Click here for a wonderful Facebook hosted video.) One of the places we visited is nicknamed "Emerald City" because it's on Emerald Street under a long railroad bridge.
Imagine if you will located right here a sidewalk lined with
- worn out discarded mattresses
- personal belongings,
- 30 to 40 men and women and one fetal child due to be born in September
- food and filth
- tables and chairs
- needles and heroin and crack cocaine
- an active card game
- a man in a wheel chair
- sleeping or unconscious humans
- A woman thinking nothing of changing clothes out in the open
- A couple intertwined
- A man "knighting me" because I visited with iced Gatoraid
- A woman turning from me so I would not see her light her rock of Crack Cocaine.
- She was embarrassed by her behavior because she was doing what her body called her to do as is the case with any addiction. Her embarrassment was increased by what we had learned about each other during our chatting over the past few minutes when we realized that we were from neighboring communities in Delaware County.
How does this relate to Mickey? As I shared the flyer I created as seen above, with these men and women of varying ages and backgrounds, several expressed concern for this woman they know and care about and love. Some offered suggestions on where she might be and where she typically can be found.
One mentioned a small apartment house where she sometimes visits friends. I had seen Mickey go in under a bridge near the Aramingo Ave. exit of I-95 on a tip the night before that Mickey may be there.there the last time I saw her. Anna and I said our goodbyes and drove to that apartment after making one very sobering visit to the area
No one was there at the time but these pictures show a bit of what we found.
We left Gaitoraid, PB&J sandwiches, and Mickey's "Missing" flyers on each mattress.
Imagine how heartsick I was as I placed the flyer for Mickey's safe return on that bed that was also holding nine used syringes and other drug paraphernalia...
Even in the midst of this hellish setting, God's Word was there to be found...
As much as I wanted to keep actively searching for Mickey, there was one more person who needed to meet Anna. That was Mike who has been living behind the Rite Aid on Aramingo for about five weeks. They hit it off nicely as they compared their Italian childhoods. The conversation was mixed with the normal stuff of life and getting Mike's life unstuck from its current setting.
Mike was sure to say that he had not seen Mickey in several days. In that one comment from Mike about Mickey, I was all the more aware that while she may be homeless and addicted, Mickey is still a very cared for human being, something of a feral kitten in her approach to others as I said before but a human being, made in the image of God, none the less.
I just hope and continue to pray that one day soon we will see her safe and sound again.
Please keep searching for Mickey. The picture at the top is a printable flyer. She is someone's daughter who needs to be found!
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