I'm 'hubbing' directly to y'all this time.Usually I compose on 'word' then SAVE,edit and come here.My lost blog from directly after work(hub,okay,okay,okay) was completely different,relevent,and part of my present day life working behind the scenes in the movie biz...Oh well!It got lost when I jumped up to drive my teenager to a party,then came home to find pc frozen,crashed and I had to re-boot.I didn't save any of the document as it poured out of me,when I wrote it.

So,other stuff happened.Nothing too spectacular,don't get excited.

After my son was out of the house,I had nothing to do with myself.So I grabbed the home vacuum,my longest electrical cord(retrieved during the Prawn Shack sort) and went to the underground parkade to clean the Black Knight (my Hyundai)

After cleaning inside the car,it was my intention to take it to the 24 hour car wash at Esso.But I needed cigs and wanted a coffee first.I stopped at Mac's,which is a 24/7 convenience store franchise much like 7Eleven,I don't know if you have 'em in your country,so I explain it,see?Lol!

Inside was my favourite cashier Gurhmit working.He is this 20 something Sikh boy who started there with traditional (religious) turban and beard,then later cut off all his hair and beard to appear more 'western'.A handsome young man in both guises.His gentle spirit and big brown eyes shine through all his personas.Anyways...

He was waving to me through the glass window before I even entered the door.And me,same.There was another Indian man talking to him,who soon left after we all had polite small talk.He left with a "He likes you,I'll leave you guys alone".But there was a third man also.

I've blogged about the third man before,in Cindyrose21 days.The Doorway Cowboy.The Doorway Cowboy is a panhandler in my neighborhood that Bryce and I have seen ever since we bought this townhouse.He's usually aggressive.You walk into Mac's and spot him outside from the corner of your eye.But *leaving* Mac's,he's sort of got the door closed from the outside and flings it open when your hand is on it to leave and spiels:"Spare change Ma'am?"Plus,he has his signature 'cowboy hat',hence the name I've designated to him.

Tonight,it was cold,freezing cold.I was inside playing scratch and wins with Gurhmit for a few minutes.I guess cowboy took his eyes off the window and I was able to leave without him opening the door.But once outside:

"Spare change Ma'am?"

I usually say no,on the belief I am perpetuating a fraud.And maybe I still am,but tonight I did not ignore him.

"Yup.Hold on."And I scooped all I could out of the change zippered compartment of my wallet and handed it over.But along with my change,came my big opinionated mouth.

"Sir,yer better than this,"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Yer soft spoken,well mannered,and friendly.You should be working a good job.You're capable."

"Alright then.."

Okay,he'll say anything to get the money,and not have the cops called.So I jumped in the Knight and went to Mickey-D's where the good tasting coffee is.My Esso car wash is next door.Don't ask me why,but I bought two coffees.One mixed for me,and one black.

I remembered last year when a 'desperate' held a knife to Gurhmit's throat trying to rob Mac's,and I had to go back.I had to.

Gurhmit was fine and eyed me wondering,but with a big smile through the glass as I talked to the Doorway Cowboy for about 20 minutes.I gave him a pep talk *and the coffee*,and told him a million options and jobs he would be good at.Honestly,this individual is soo soft spoken and calm,I had to take a second look to make sure he wasn't a method actor studying for a role,or some billionaire philanthropist looking for his deserving heir.Ala "Howard and Me" or something in that mindset.

Seriously!I worked on a carnival as a kid,sang Rock'n'Roll across Canada,and I still have high hopes for people.He,"Les" that's DC's real first name,watched me light a cig and smoke it halfway down,before I said to him:

"See Les,yer a conundrum.Never have I met a person on the street who watched me smoke and didn't ask for one.You haven't asked.Would you like one?"

"Yes Ma'am." I gave him one,and he smoked right away,he wasn't saving it to 'barter' with someone else later, or hoard in private.

He told me alot of things about himself,successes,failures,and how 'somebody else' always brings him down.Yes,I gave him the"yer Master of yer own destiny" line.<sigh>I asked him if he was ever treated for mental health problems.Yes,he confessed,and he didn't have much confidence in that 'system'.

Fair enough.So I truly told him why I came back:

"See that boy in there,"indicating Gurhmit,

"That's my friend.Last year somebody held a knife to his throat,I never want that to happen again.You know what I mean?"

"Yes Ma'am,he's a good guy to me too.I've got his back,and he has mine."

"Cool,thanks.So we're cool right?Next time I see you,I hope you sell me Christmas lights at Canadian Tire or something.You know?"

"Yeah."

"'Kay,see ya'."

"Bless you Jalene."

"Yeah,you too."

"And hey,"he calls out when I'm almost back to the car.

"Your son is a good boy too,he's gotten big."

"Thanks."

!?

I guess street people really DO see everything.Everything.

That's my event.Blah huh?Well,the car is almost clean.After he mentioned Bryce,I didn't go to Esso,I just came home and counted my blessings.

G'Night

~JR~