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I was leaving the book store in Harvard Square after making no purchases, rather I browsed through some good books, when I encountered a human statue She was all grey and wearing a stone skirt I slipped a dollar in her bucket and she moved to kiss my cheek then became a statue again I walked away with grey lip marks on my face I went to the T and encountered a man with no legs In his wheel chair he held a sign saying he was a war veteran I gave him a dollar and he said "God bless you, thank you sir" I got off the T at the Common There was another man in a wheel chair His sign said, "Please Help Me Fly My Kite" So I ran back and forth and held the kite high in the air He laughed, smiled, and applauded He said, "God bless you, thank you sir" I went on to Quincy Market where a street magician made my wallet disappear Fortunately it reappeared with all my money so I gave him a dollar Then I heard "Ave Maria" on the violin I listened to the music and was instilled with peace I gave the musician a dollar I next encountered two people with signs that read, "Free Hugs Here" How could I resist, I got myself a couple tight hugs Before I went home, I went into the pub and spent seven dollars on a beer I left with a headache but I still felt good
True story???
Well actually all of it is true, it just didn’t all happen in one day. And the man with the kite, I didn’t actually fly his kite for him because I had to catch the train, but I hated that I didn’t, and I’ve always wished I had. However, I also did buy the cd of the man with the violin. Now they’re arresting the panhandlers in Boston, which kind of makes me sad. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. In Boston there’s always been a lot of them, and they are gracious, I’ve given food or coffee too. I used to know a cop who would arrest them just to get them out of the cold in the winter, give them a warm place to sleep and some food. I’ve known human service workers who’ve given them cards to call for help. However, many shelters are at capacity now because homelessness is at an all time high, including people who were once in the middle class. So….I’m giving you this very long answer to your brief question because it’s on my mind, and maybe others will read this comment, and you know me, so you won’t think “damn I’m never commenting on his blog again” lol
I love this comment. We have very few where I live. And usually they aren’t homeless or really even poor. I like how you wrote what you would have liked to have happened with the kite
Thanks! That man has never left me since that time I walked by. I even mentioned him once to someone I was talking to and the person told me that he’s seen people flying his kite for him, so I was glad to hear that.
Perfect day…
yeah it is, I don’t actually live in the city but I go in all the time, and Boston is always like this for me, always.
I recently spent several days in Boston, and had a similarly lovely time. Glad yours was as perfect as it should be. : )
Yes you can verify how brilliant Boston is. It’s a great old town, absolutely!
Brilliant! How ironic the beer cost more than all the good deeds combined.
I love the image of you flying the kite!
One of my favorites Sage.
Yes, I’m glad someone noticed that, thanks for pointing it out! It’s a myth that you can’t have a good time in the city when you have no money, I have tons of experience to prove otherwise. Thank you!
Sounds like a perfect day.
Absolutely, you need to come to Boston so you can have a day like this lol
I have come :) I love Boston.
Ok I think you might have told me that before. It’s great. There was another guy at a major intersection in and out of the city who had a sign that said something like “All I want is a smile” and he went from car to car trying to make people smile. He never asked for money, they’d smile and he’d walk away. If people offered him money he’d take it, but he never asked.
Aww nice. :) I love hugs and smiles.
Yeah me too :)
I got that one. Sounds like a nice day.
Yeah, it’s always a nice day in Boston, for me anyway :)
Thank you Sage – Last year I went to visit my sister in Tacoma, WA and we took a jaunt up to Seattle. There are many homeless people there and my sister and her husband make it a point to take many dollars and pockets full of change along for that very purpose of passing it out. The desperateness and the hopelessness of the situation made me very sad (and not a little guilty to eat a meal in a fancy restaurant) but every person was so grateful to receive and many “God Bless You’s” were exchanged. I appreciated your accounting of your day in Boston. Blessings, Alia
Thanks for sharing, people often pretend they don’t see them because they’re afraid or they don’t understand, which is understandable, but a shame. So thanks for validating :)