Hey Guysss, EETS a ME, DAVID!
I used to write blogs when I was a younger lad. My first blog was a deadjournal way back in '02. Then I got a livejournal a couple years later when LJ became free again. Both have been x'nayed for lack of caring on my part. BUT, Rose is up here for the summer and she thought it would be nice to have this journal to commemorate such an experience, and I agree.
Rose is going to kill me for writing this out publicly before I tell her in person, but oh well.
So we stopped at the Vista Publix the other day. We were on our way to Glen and Miriam's for a cookout, and we were asked to bring a few things to satisfy Amber's veggie cravings. Amber stayed in the car because she was tired from the bike ride, so I went inside to get the boca burgers and a tea to satisfy m'lady's thirst. Right before I walked in the automatic doors, a man approached me shouting out "Excuse me, Sir!". I stopped and turned towards him and he came within a few feet of me and asked me straight up if I would be kind enough to buy him some food. I gave him the look over - He was wearing normal looking jeans and a regular t-shirt. He had what looked like an extremely heavy packpack slung over his shoulder with a rather large umbrella sticking out of it. And I don't know what came over me, but I said, "Sure!" Usually, I don't give people asking for money the time of day (might be the wrong attitude but it's what I do, I always think they are just going to get boozed up), but this guy was different for some reason. He looked so normal. If he had been walking around Publix without his backpack, I would have not even remotely though that he was homeless/hungry. I don't know what his situation was or where he was from, but I just wanted to buy this man some food. I asked him what he wanted and he said, "Ummm, chicken wings and ice cream please!" I scoffed at his want of ice cream and said I would buy him some chicken wings. So he thanked me and thanked me and I told him to walk inside with me. I told him to go get his chicken wings, I would get my boca burgers and we would meet back at the front. Well, I got what I needed then walked back over to the deli where he was waiting to be served and just stood next to him. When the deli man asked me if I needed to be helped, Mr. ChickenWingsMan (he told me his name but I forgot it of course because I have possibly the worst memory on the face of the earth) said, "No, he doesn't need help, he's with me" Kinda weird but also kinda cool. Once he got his chicken wings he said he needed something to wash it down with so I got him a cold "G" out of the fridge up front. I paid for the food, and we walked out of Publix together. He turned to me, poured out his thanks, and gave me a fist bump. I told him to take care of himself. And then he walked off.
I felt incomplete walking back to the car, like I missed an opportunity? Maybe I would have talked to him more if I wasn't in such a hurry, who knows. I felt like I satisfied his immediate hunger but not an eternal hunger he very well could have had...
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed those chicken wings Mr. ChickenWingsMan! Maybe I'll see you around sometime...
- David
