I can relate to your touching story of the homeless man. Just yesterday when going to the post office in our little city of Corvallis, I saw a man crouched down by the front steps with a beautiful dog. As is typical this time of year, it was raining and the man had covered the dog partially with a jacket. They both sat under the eaves of the building as the people passed by. The man was wearing those woolen gloves with the fingers cut out and both man and dog had a sad gaze. I gave him a small donation as I walked up the steps. When I came out, to my dismay, I saw a policeman talking with the man, telling him to move on. The man did not move and when driving away, I looked back to see the cop putting cuffs on the man.

I felt awful as I drove away, admittedly as concerned about what would become of the dog. Perhaps, I thought, the man would get a meal and a place out of the rain, at least temporarily. It was the best I could do to comfort myself, a comfortable middle class matron with a nice car and warm home to go to.

I agree with chardonnay that there is a growing underclass that is a national disgrace. With the cost of healthcare and it’s ability to create bankruptcy… just to name one out of control problem…. we watch billions of dollars go down the drain in Iraq.

I do enjoy your style of prose. Sorta like James Joyce and his stream of consciousness..”Finnegans Wake” comes to mind.

On a darker note I think the growing underclass is both a national shame and a political danger. It`s beyond my understanding that the repubs just don`t care. They must not read much about social unrest or realize the consequences..not now, but 20 years from now.

Lovely here..grass is green & the wild mustard is in bloom.

Cheers and Such !