So, there's this homeless guy that I see around every so often. The first time I met him was at a coffee shop in Beverly Hills. He was dressed as a woman and dragging one of those wheelie suitcases. He sat at a table and applied make up, occasionally taking a break to roll the remnants of cigarette butts into torn sheets of paper pulled from a journal and smoke.
I couldn't help it. I started talking to him. I forget how... but people like him are usually have some of the most interesting stories -- and he seemed fairly coherent. We ended up talking for close to two hours. He calls himself Diamond Panther.
The last time I ran into him we had another long chat. I wonder how he is. This last time, I guess he'd recently gotten out of the hospital. Said he was so drunk and stoned that his legs were paralyzed and he couldn't move. So, the cops had an ambulance take him to the hospital. His biggest concern, once he was discharged, was where his suitcase of clothes and make up was. The cops had thrown it away. He got his general relief check of $400 (I didn't follow if this was all cash or cash and food stamps), and went to downtown LA where he bought a new suitcase. And new panties. And new bras. And new pantyhose. He got all of those items for a dollar or two a piece. Except the suitcase. And he found some make up and other clothes. And he got some shoes from Payless. And he bought more make up and panties at a dollar store. We smoke cigarettes and looked through all of his latest purchases and finds. And he told me of a movie he wants to make about the Nine Buddahs.
I'm charmed by him. I don't know why. Maybe it's because he has all these little catch phrases, like, "Comprende Vous, Mutha fucka?" And he says "mutha fucka" with a French accent. Maybe it's because his biggest concern, even after having just gotten out of the hospital and gotten a check for probably the only money he's going to have for the month ("A LOT of money for someone like me," he says), his biggest concern was making sure he had his dresses and make up. Not food or a roof. Dresses and make up.
Any time I see him around I will stop and look him in the eye and give him cigarettes and listen to him.
I couldn't help it. I started talking to him. I forget how... but people like him are usually have some of the most interesting stories -- and he seemed fairly coherent. We ended up talking for close to two hours. He calls himself Diamond Panther.
The last time I ran into him we had another long chat. I wonder how he is. This last time, I guess he'd recently gotten out of the hospital. Said he was so drunk and stoned that his legs were paralyzed and he couldn't move. So, the cops had an ambulance take him to the hospital. His biggest concern, once he was discharged, was where his suitcase of clothes and make up was. The cops had thrown it away. He got his general relief check of $400 (I didn't follow if this was all cash or cash and food stamps), and went to downtown LA where he bought a new suitcase. And new panties. And new bras. And new pantyhose. He got all of those items for a dollar or two a piece. Except the suitcase. And he found some make up and other clothes. And he got some shoes from Payless. And he bought more make up and panties at a dollar store. We smoke cigarettes and looked through all of his latest purchases and finds. And he told me of a movie he wants to make about the Nine Buddahs.
I'm charmed by him. I don't know why. Maybe it's because he has all these little catch phrases, like, "Comprende Vous, Mutha fucka?" And he says "mutha fucka" with a French accent. Maybe it's because his biggest concern, even after having just gotten out of the hospital and gotten a check for probably the only money he's going to have for the month ("A LOT of money for someone like me," he says), his biggest concern was making sure he had his dresses and make up. Not food or a roof. Dresses and make up.
Any time I see him around I will stop and look him in the eye and give him cigarettes and listen to him.
raziel666:
That is realy cool that you take the time to talk and listen to him.I am sure that means alot to him,since alot of people snuub their noses at the homeless.I know when me and the kids wwere homeless for about 6 months,that is all I wanted was someone to take time to show some kindness and not pity.I don't know about you,but $400 is alot to anyone thesse days.I beleive you are both so very blessed.