*Homeless Woman*

This blog was created for one reason and that's to address the plight of the homeless.

I've been homeless and will probably be homeless again.
With my "hands-on experience" I feel I have a right to share what I've learned while being homeless and also feel I have a right to voice my opinions on what's being done and NOT being done in regard to constructive ways to get people off the streets and also come up with a solution to PREVENT homelessness.

I'm nobody to you.

I stand behind you in line at the grocery store and with a pleasant smile I'm most likely to let you go ahead of me if you've got less items than I do or an impatient child giving you a tough time. You'd smile back, (hopefully taking time to thank me for letting you go ahead), and then you wouldn't give much thought about me as I politely wait my turn behind you.

You might even see me out in the parking lot getting in or sitting in my clean, well kept 2002 silver Mercury Sable, (in other words, a "Grandma Car"), and maybe think, "Gee, that was nice of that lady to let me go ahead of her". There's no way you'd be thinking, "Wow, it's so sad that woman has no home, nowhere to go and has to live in her car".

You wouldn't think something like that about me because I present myself in a manner that doesn't assault you with the fact that I'm homeless. I'm not going to bug you for your spare change, (although I'm very tempted as I could really use it). I'm not going to urinate in front of your business or crash out on a busy sidewalk for you to step over or around me.

My clothes are well worn, (given to me from a local women's shelter), but not dirty. My graying hair isn't as clean as it would be if I had a home, but it's neatly combed and pulled back into a modest ponytail. My face is plain with no make up, (I can't afford it), but my complexion is healthy.

My hands clutch tight onto an old purse that contains my Bible and every important document I need to get by in this world but my hands are steady and my nails are dirt-free and trimmed.

The generous smile I offer you is more of a wide, self-conscience grin because I've lost my upper teeth and can't afford dentures.

My eyes are clear and alert as I am a clean, sober, law-abiding citizen.

If you stopped to take the time and have the interest to look closer you'd see the difference between you and I. You'd see the anguish, despair, fear and suffering reflected in my eyes that comes with being homeless.
 But you won't.

 You'll look right past me and in most cases, won't even see me or give me another thought.