Sign of the times

[bpositive]

I was getting my haircut today and one of the stylists came up to my stylist who happens to be the store manager and told her that there was a guy to see her. Both of them thought that that it was probably a complaint- not uncommon at a family haircut store. Well the manager finished with my hair and as I was paying for my cut I was ease dropping on the conversation between the two. The guy was explaining to the manager that he was short $1.70 for a ride home by cab and said that he would like to earn the money by sweeping the hair off the floor. She said that she did not need the help- they have central vacuums all throughout the store- they truly do the trick- not much work there. Anyways, she offered to give him the returnable cans that are kept in the break room- looked to be about -50 cents. Well I was cashing out and told the guy that I would help him out. I gave the cashier my debit card and over wrote by 10.00 and gave 5.00 as the tip and looked for the gentleman. I proceeded towards him and gave him 5.00 (all I had). He was very happy and wanted to find a way to repay me- he suggested that I give him my address. I declined and said take care of yourself and headed to my minivan with my three kids and wife waiting. In hindsight I wish I had more to give.

This whole situation reminded me of a few years back- I had to go to a doctors office in Hartford,CT and parked at a dunkin donuts- did not see the sign saying no parking, cars will be towed. Anyways,I was not feeling good at all, hence the doctors visit and went to the office and was taken care of. I went back to my car and it was gone- just my luck it was towed and as luck had it, my wallet and my phone were both in the car. I still was not feeling the best and had a dollar to my name. I went to a gas station and asked for change for a dollar. As luck had it there was a pay phone outside the store- I was really lucky since pay phones nowadays are nowhere to be found. Well I had my 4 quarters and called my wife which by the way screens her calls and seldom, if ever, answers calls from unknown numbers. I tried calling a few times and ran out of quarters. There I was- stuck in the city with no money, no phone, no car and no way home. Pretty low point in my life, if not for only a few hours. I felt like every one thought that I was a bum, I had to ask for some money to make a call- people would not give me any. I ended up going back to the doctors office- in hindsight I should have done that first and asked a guy if I could borrow his cell phone. Fortunately he let me and I called my mother in law and she came and got me and brought Cash to get my car out of storage.

Not sure if the guy was going person to person to get money- not sure I care, I wish I could have given more. It is getting tough out there.