Today is Sunday.
Three days ago, on Thursday afternoon, I was visiting Emerald City and
the Frankford Avenue Bridge Communities and became very involved in a
conversation with one of the residents.
When that conversation ended, I was focused on my love and concern for
that person and not thinking about my Rubbermaid cooler sitting in the street
near the curb and which had been recently donated to me for this purpose. I hopped in my car and drove home.
Two days later, yesterday, I realized that the cooler was
missing. I immediately presumed that I'd
never see it again and that I'd need to buy a new one for almost $70.00 so as
not to disclose my own stupidity in not keeping track of donations.
Upon arrival in Emerald City and the Frankford Avenue Bridge
Communities this morning, a man I've known for a few weeks immediately came up
to me and told me that he had been holding my cooler for me. This man is a dual addicted African American
man, the likes of which would intimidate any suburban person. And yet, here he was, letting me know that he
was holding my cooler for me.
Big deal!?
Well… Yes!
This man held my cooler for me for three days in an
environment a bit known for theft. If
that's enough, this man held my cooler through the weekly Friday
"cleanout" committed by the City of Brotherly Love, a cleanout that
requires the residents to move EVERY item in their position out from under the
bridge and back under the bridge within 15 minutes of the time cleanout is done
or risk losing all possessions.
And so…
This man, this African American Dual addicted homeless man,
demonstrated so much kindness to me in keeping my cooler for me that I've been
left humbled and speechless the remainder of this day…
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