It was a cold rainy night

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We had to make a "quick" trip to town yesterday. I had to deliver a stack of Christmas stockings made from an antique quilt and I decided that since we were meeting at the shop I would do the straightening and decorating of my space in the shop. I really didn't want to make the trip but decided to make the best of it. We got to the shop and the lady was there waiting for the stockings. She was thrilled with the way they turned out. That was a great way to turn out the trip!!! The next plus was that the Scrooge of a shop owner actually had Christmas music playing on the stereo!!! I found myself quietly singing along with the carols. I didn't sing louder because my singing sounds like a bear with its foot caught in a trap. I went ahead and started decorating my booth space and then set up the purses that I had bought the locking chain for. It's a sad state of affairs when you have to lock everything up to keep from having it swiped. We went on with our shopping, had a delicious pizza at a design it yourself pizza place...oh boy that pizza was good! Then to the grocery store. I had just gotten out of the truck when a young gentleman came up to me, it was obvious that he was cold and even more obvious that he was homeless. From his body language it shown true that he was embarrassed that he had to be begging, and he very very quietly asked if I could spare a dollar. I didn't hear him the first time and asked him to repeat himself. He asked again and I was already digging for my wallet...when he finished asking if I could spare a dollar I said to him "No" He started to turn away and I stopped him with "How about my sparing two dollars for you?" He smiled very brightly and blessed me several times. Then as if like magic, he disappeared. My town is getting to be very tough on the homeless and is forcing them out of the area. Even if they are on the outskirts of the city limits the police will harass them and force them to move further along. Further along leaves them in areas where there is no place to find any kind of shelter from the elements. The job opportunities in my area are next to nothing. Sure you can find minimum wage jobs at places like Wendy's and McDonald's but they don't pay enough for you to be able to pay for a place to live let alone food, clothes and other necessities including furniture. Sure, people keep saying "Don't help the homeless, they're just lazy and don't want to work". But to get a job you need to have a place to live and a phone. To have those two items you need income, without income you can't afford a place to live... I don't care what anyone says, I felt really good that I was able to hand that young man a couple of bucks to get something warm to fill his stomach. I try to keep some dollar bills in my wallet for that cause, and I'll need to get a few more again, but contrary to what some people say, I still like helping the homeless and the good feeling it gives me for giving them a few dollars to help them out.