Interview 1

I met a homeless man outside of Jamba Juice. I had swung by before class as my morning had excluded breakfast (and I'm trying to eat healthier). Yesterday I gave my last two dollars to a man who was clearly homeless but not begging, so when this man asked if I had any change, I honestly told him no.

But I had some in the car. So I grabbed some money from my parking money pouch (I keep a stash of bills and change in my armrest thinger), and I walked back to him. He was grateful and that would normally be where it ended. But Kristen's words about learning homeless stories surged through my mind, giving me courage.

"I don't have any thing more, but I could buy you some lunch," I say, trying to start this conversation with something other than, "So, you're homeless..." Also, if he says yes, it'll give me some time while we get food.

"No that's ok, I'll eat later."

Damn, I think. Better just do it.

"So, are you homeless?"

"Yeah," he replies, quickly adding, "but only for now. I just moved back, I mean, I'm from California originally, but I'm back."

"Oh, cool. Where did you move from?" I don't really know what so say or ask... I'm just trying to keep the conversation alive.

"Phoenix, was out there for a few years."

Not really knowing what to do with that, feeling like I'm prying with that line of questioning. So I ask something I ask people all the time.

"What do you do?"

"Well, I'm trying to start a business."

Wow, I think. Not what I expected, I suppose. I'm interested. "What kind of business?"

Ok, so he answered this question. But I couldn't tell you what he said. His response was soft, and his words were increasingly muttered as he actually turned his head away from me as he spoke. The explanation of his plan ended with an addendum, "I also do work in factory production." I heard that last little bit.

The conversation had a sort of done feeling about it, so I told him good luck, he thanked me again, and I walked off. One of the things that stood out to me was his business plan. I hadn't really expected a man asking for change to have an enterpernerial spirit. The other thing that I noticed was his stressing that his homeless state was temporary. I sure know where he is coming from with that. I regularly stress the fact that my situation is going to end in a few months, both to myself and others. Apparently I am not alone in this desire to keep the word homeless a description of my situation, and not of me as a person.