Gold, Frankensense and Bacon
Joelle said at some point on December 14, 2007
On my way back from the dermatologist this morning, I decided to break my self-imposed sanction on Starbucks and grab a peppermint latte. It’s Friday, I have lots of creative to send out today (yes, that means you and you! hee!) and I want to snuggle up for Work from the Couch Friday. The couch is where I get my best ideas. 
For some people it’s the bathroom.
So, as I was walking in, I noticed a homeless man standing off to the side, in front of the business next to Starbucks, huddled in a corner. It was quite cold here this morning, enough that I busted out my scarf (no flip-flops, though) and he had draped dirty old blankets over himself like a cape to keep warm. He was a taller black man with a teddy bear body… the kind of person that probably gives great hugs. I was walking past in a hurry already, not because of him, but as I did I smiled and he said, softly, “Good morning, miss.” and smiled back.
That was it. No plea for money, no pitiful play to my sympathies, no stories about how he’s got to feed his imaginary kids. Just “Good morning, miss.” I responded, “Good morning” and smiled again, continuing a few more yards into the Starbucks. Once inside, I discovered it was absolutely packed and the line was at least 15 people long. This is in addition to all the people sitting at the tables inside, enjoying their hot coffee and warm muffins. I was struck by the thought of how many of these people walked passed the man outside without so much as a glance and that made me really sad.
It’s not like I’ve never walked past a homeless person. Of course I have, everyone has. My usual rule of thumb is that I don’t give money, but I’ll happily give food, clothing or time. Many times, the homeless I encounter are not interested in that (does anyone remember the guy outside 7-11?) or they’re so sketchy and beggar-y that I fear for my safety, so I keep walking. But sometimes… sometimes I see someone who just speaks to me, literally and figuratively.
On my way out, I saw the man again, who looked me right in the eye when I approached him. I admired that, especially given that he had very sad, kind eyes that sort of reminded me of a dog who has been kicked a lot, but is still willing to love you. He smiled when he saw me and I smiled back as I approached. When he saw me raise my hand and present him with a steaming hot bacon, egg and cheese sandwich from Starbucks, he looked so… I don’t know, surprised I guess. Grateful. And that made me grateful. That look he gave reminded me not to overlook the simple things, not to spend so much time worrying about the small things and that in the grand scheme of life, while work and deadlines and meetings and clients and all that stuff is necessary, the endless quest for perfection is not.
I said, “Merry Christmas to you, sir.” and he patted me, quite affectionately on the upper arm, giving it a small squeeze. “Thank you, miss. And to you,” he said. “And to you.”
Sometimes perfection already exists in a tiny moment shared over a bacon sandwich.
Moxie Design Studios™
*joins hands with Joelle and all the other commenters-to-be for this entry, starts singing Christmas carols, with the start of a tear in the corner of one eye*
Cocktail: Mudslide
I don’t know if it’s my hormones or it being that time of the year, but dang it! I am now sitting at my desk at work, with a HUGE lump in my throat and tears on the brink of spilling out over my eyelids!
So glad you were able to give him a hot breakfast!
Here in Vegas it’s hard to pick and choose who to give $$ or food to. It seems like they’re at every corner, at every stop light, with their signs out . . .
The homeless with dogs are the ones that most usually get $$ from me.
Les~
from Tampa, FL
Uh. That was very, VERY sweet of you.
Yah made me cry…
Merry Christmas, Joelle.
from West Palm Beach, FL • Cocktail: Champagne Bellini
I’d sing Oh Holy Night but I’ll refrain. There is always perfection in bacon. You probably made that guys week. Mmmmm bacon sammiches…
*schmaltz*
from Escanaba, MI • Cocktail: Fabulous-Tini
Wow… yeah. Tears here, too. What an incredible gesture!
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
hehe. Aw, you guys. It was just a sammich.
Awww that was so nice of you!
from my cozy warm house.
Ok… so I cried a bit, too. Or at least got some tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Interesting contrast between your encounter with this guy and with Burgess Fisherman. Almost would expect the interchanges you had with each to be the opposite. You are richer for what you did this morning, and the beauty of this story reflects yours. Thanks for showing kindness to a stranger. It encourages us all to do the same.
um yeah...what everyone else said. totally bawling over here. such a good story...and thank you for the inspiration. :*)
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
you guys are too much.
thanks.
from Santa Barbara, CA
It may have been a simple gesture, but I think it’s the way you told the story that got people to tear up. It’s obvious how much compassion you have for other people, and it’s something the man could probably see too. The story is an indication that there are still good things in the world, no matter how small. You’re a good storyteller, and a good person as well!
Merry Christmas to you too!
You made me cry, too.
But I also thought, “What if he was non-dairy?”
I also then thought of how gaga my best friend from SD was over the drivethru Starbuck’s(es?) we have here in KC when she came to visit me for my wedding shower in July, and how you’d feel about something like THAT in your life.
My mind is a jumble of shit today, and this entry made it unravel before my eyes. Thank you, sista.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Faith: wow, thanks.
Also, I had a drive-thru Starbucks near my house in Texas and we have a few here now, finally. hee!
@Icyshard: Thank you.
I’m a sap, I admit it, but truly, that brought tears to my eyes.
Cocktail: Amaretto Stone Sour
There is a legend that the bells at an old church would not ring until a great and wonderful gift was placed on the altar. Wealthy men and even kings placed piles of jewels and gold on the altar but the bells remained still. One day a small boy removed his worn, patched and tattered coat upon the altar. The bells rang with all their glory that day.
I heard the bells after reading your post. Thank you.
/schmoopy
from Iowa
That brought tears to my eyes. That was so kind of you.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
Thanks, everyone. Merry Christmas.
from Virginia
That was so cool of you! Not every person that is homeless is without a house because they don’t want to work. It really is a shame that everyone doesn’t remember the real reason for the season.
That one act of kindness might very well be the only good thing that he has to think about, and he can thank you for that.
Hope you have a great Christmas holiday.
Not to be a complete Scrooge, but I just want to know how you were so sure that all those people had walked by without speaking to him. That seems a large assumption on your part.
Well done Joelle.
People think I’m strange when I say that when I am having a bad day extending a kindness to someelse always makes me feel better.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Karen: Thanks so much.
Merry Christmas to you.
@Anon: You have nothing better to do than stir up trouble in an innocuous Christmas post? And if you care to re-read, I didn’t say “all”. I think the assumption is on you. Merry Christmas, Scrooge.
@Maria: Thanks, maria.
Happy Holidays.
from around
Starbucks has come to be regarded by some, particularly in the global justice movement, as symbolic of the problems posed by globalization. Several activist groups maintain websites criticizing the company’s fair-trade policies, labor relations, and environmental impact, and hold it as a prime example of U.S. cultural and economic imperialism.
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