[Love]

I think it's wonderful when we help each other out. That was a great experience, blueberry.

I also had a transportation mishap, just over a week ago. I hadn't checked my transportation card before I got into the bus. When I found I didn't have enough money on it, I made my way to get off the bus. The bus driver called me back and said we could make it work. I told him I couldn't do it, because I only had a $10 bill, and you have to have singles or change to get on the bus. He told me to come on anyway. So I was feeling pretty grateful about that. Yet, I felt bad about bumming a ride. So I searched into all the nooks and crannies of my bags, and with one hand, slowly starting amassing all the nickels, dimes, and quarters I had around. When I had pulled out everything, I still didn't have enough. Yet the man on the bus standing behind me had seen me trying to get all this change out my bag. He held out some change of his own and said that I could use his to make up the balance. We still didn't have enough. Yet the bus driver arranged it so that the amount on my card counted twice, and we gave in the rest of the change. No one had to help me out. They were all so nice about it.

I try to do what I can. That is not limited to giving money, or even giving "gifts" per se. But the most recent example I can think of happened about 2 hours ago. I've seen the same guy on the train, off and on, for maybe a year? He has a non-functioning leg (he walks with a deep swagger, almost). He always tells the same story: he was released from prison and is now living in a shelter. But he got hit by a car, thus the problem with his leg. He says he's been in surgery twice (and lifts up his shirt to prove it) and that he needs to go for another one. He says he doesn't rob or steal or hurt anyone; that's all past. This time, he went on. He says that he's tired of doing this, asking people all the time... that he feels embarrassed, and then even mentions he needs a haircut. But he says there isn't a whole lot he could do right now, on account of his leg... and just was asking for anyone to help him out with anything. I have given to him before, because he always strikes me as such an honest person. Today I gave him my grapefruit juice and he willingly accepted it. I hope it does him some good. I know what it means to be Tired.

People lending each other a hand makes the world go 'round.