Showing posts with label Homelessness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homelessness. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Let's Fine the Homeless People Who Sleep on Our Streets ...

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny






Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny







This is strictly my Gloria Opinion ... I won't argue it with anyone.  I respect your opinions just as you respect mine.  This is a subject that touches my very Heart ... I wish I could make a difference.  I try in my little ways each day ... suppose we all did?

All of my friends, followers know I have a Special place in my Heart for homeless people.  In a fight ... if someone falls down ... the other person wins, right?  He doesn't stand there, continually kicking someone who is down.  This is what fining homeless people is doing.  Only the coldest, meanest would do such a thing ... only the cold, heartless would do that to get pleasure from seeing more suffering.

What's wrong with getting the word out to the homeless ... telling them of ... safe areas ... they can go lay down ... even if ... it's out in the open like where they are sleeping now.  Have you thought that some of these people are very afraid of dying, being beaten ... tortured?  Have you?  They get out in the open praying to God to protect them, watch over them ... well ... we are God's angels ... why aren't they being watched over?

Have you ever thought 'like a homeless person' ... 'think of how you would do if you had no choice to be homeless'?  I have ... I would want to stay as close to people who are there ... people who are strong, caring ... people who offer comfort through words, food ... sometimes, touch.  You are thinking ... but, they make a mess!  My answer is ... put more portable toliets in every area ... more trash receptacles ... maybe a lot of them don't want to make a mess.

Have you ever been close to being ... homeless?  Have you felt the fear of ... what am I going to do?  Where am I going to go?  What comes to your mind?  Darkness comes to your mind ... homeless people live in darkness ... no where to go ... no one wants them because they might get dirt on their possessions ... all they can do is to ... exist for what?  So, what do they do ... live until they die.  What do they have to look forward to ... a life that punishes them everyday just for being alive?

I say Shame on you ... whoever you are to want to come up with an idea to punish a homeless person, fine a homeless person who has nothing but, the rags they wear ... do you need a 'rag' that bad?  I say I wish there was a legal way to make you come out of your comfortable life ... make you live as a homeless person in the most real way ... for at least 6 months to a year.  We have to walk on the many roads in Life to understand them ... if you haven't experienced them ... it's too easy to sit ... spout words to do this, do that ... and not know the first thing you are talking about.

Have compassion, a big Heart ... not anger, hate for people who are only existing until they die ... wishing like you or me ... for miracles to happen to take them out of a world they never meant to be in.  Life can be cruel ... you say "well, they are drug addicts, they are this, they are that".  I say ... they are human beings like you, like me ... God put us on this earth to love, care ... help others get to their feet ... I don't think he meant for you to live off money meant to help other people ... keep your bellies fat ... raise your family, send them to college ... all the times looking down on others while you spend money meant to help them.  You see ... there are some very selfish, ugly people in this world ... they do things such as this ... everyone sees it, knows it.

When we get older ... we realize what life is really about ... not being selfish, hoarding possessions.  It's truly about constantly ... giving to help someone, putting a hand out to steady someone ... pull someone up who is sitting on the ground ... grab them before they fall ... smile, comfort them when they hurt.  Life is about ... people ... all people, including homeless people who have no choice anymore ... why?  Because they don't have money, clothes ... a nice home ... they have nothing.  Each day they risk losing the rest of what they have left ... their life.

I tell the whole world what I feel about the homeless ... because this is how I believe, feel.  I'm passionate about doing things to help them find a little comfort in this cruel life they live in ... don't you realize that we can stand, sit ... side by side ... never know what the other person is going through?  Haven't you been sitting beside someone who is totally happy, bragging about they have this, have that .................. you are sitting there with nothing ... not even a dollar or two to buy food to eat, something to drink?  All you have is your pride wishing you didn't ... so, you could ask for a few dollars to eat on.

What hurts me most is ... I have no money to help the homeless.  Guess what?  The people who would help them, make a difference ... are like me ... no money to their name to make the difference ... people who have money should be making.  Let me go back to my world now ... I'm not homeless ... but, I have nothing ... and events just happened to make me have less ... just the door in this room I'm in, what my friends do  ... keeps me safe for the moment.  I can't always depend on them ... have you ever stood close to the edge of a cliff ... you get closer, closer ... praying you never fall off?

The homeless people  ... fell off the cliff.  There are some who try to help them pick up the pieces ... but, there aren't enough of them ... many, many more people are needed ... people who have resources to help the helpless, homeless people.  Even the people who are ... just before homeless.  I know miracles can happen in our world ... I know miracles can happen to each of us ... I know miracles can happen in one's Heart.

This is strictly my Gloria Opinion.  I won't argue my beliefs with anyone ... on the homeless people ... no one can change my mind.  I love, care about all people ... homeless, people with homes, poor or rich.  I respect your opinions and expect mine to be respected.  Sincerely, Gloria Faye Brown Bates​





Note by Author:

Photo/article owned, written by me ... Gloria Faye Brown Bates

This is exactly how I feel ... I read that in a place called Chelmsford ... someone wants to fine the homeless for sleeping on the streets.  I signed the petition against that.  Why would someone want to kick someone who is already down?  Why?

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Come, Vern ... Let's Go Home

Email: gloriapaintsat@yahoo.com
Facebook.com/GrannyGee







Come, Vern ... Let's Go Home
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny






Sitting in darkness ... cold, cold darkness
I peeped out through the slit in the canvas tent
I sat in ... bundled up in every rag I could find




Praying that no one would bother me
While I sat here vulnerable, at the mercy
At the mercy of the world ... please don't notice me



Rain fell heavily on the tent I lived in
I could see it in the night light I camped near
The only comfort in my life was that one light



To keep the darkness at bay
Keep fear, grief away ... I needed the light
Somehow, the cold didn't feel as cold



I heard someone cough nearby ... I froze
Please Lord, keep them away
Don't let them know I'm here alone



I was too bulked up in the rags
To fight back ... I couldn't bend my arms
It would be hard to stand up



I needed the rags to survive
They were a godsend ... as long as I didn't have to fight
To survive ... I thought I'd found a safe place to live



Feet scuffed the frozen ground outside my tent
I couldn't breathe ... fear gripped me
Death lurked near ... I was going to die tonight



I heard Death walk closer to my tent
I was all alone in this big, old world
No one knew me ... knew I was here



Only Death would know who I was ... where I was at
Not a living soul would know anything about me
I stayed to myself, never attracting attention



My whole world had gone away
I was just living until I died
I didn't want to kill myself ... though I wondered if I should



My hands began peeling off the rags
Never making a sound ... they came off easily
As they were just wrapped around and around



My body rose up from the ground
I felt that old fighting spirit rise up in me
It had hidden ... but, not anymore



I slipped quietly to the opening to peer outside
Saw the dark figure standing not far away
It turned ... I knew it was looking at me



I was afraid ... but, I was meeting Death head-on
I wasn't going to just die without a fight
I opened the slit wider ... stepped out



Death!  I spoke in a soft, quiet voice
I'm afraid of you ... you might take me tonight
Not without one helluva fight ... I'm not going easily



You've taken every loved one I ever had ... away
Now ... you want to take me?
No!  I thought I wanted to die ... but, I'm not ready



Death stepped toward me ... I wanted to hide
I held my ground ... didn't back down
I'm not ready to go ... I know now, I have things to do



I knew at this very moment what I was going to do
It sure wasn't going to be dying tonight
I had fallen flat on my face ... sunk as low as low



I held myself straight, tall ... powerful
While looking Death in the face
You be gone, Death!  Go now ... I have things to do!



Death looked me in the face ... pointed its finger at me
I stiffened my body ... stayed strong
I sensed Death felt respect for me



A mere poor, broken shell of a person
Yet ... standing strong as I could be
I defied Death ... afraid ... yet, ready to fight



I felt as if Death wanted to hug me
The coldness went away ... I felt warmth
Was it Hell burning ... or was it from Death's heart



The warmth made my cold body feel better
I could feel my feet, legs now
I could walk ... walk out of my Hell I lived in



Death turned its back on me ... walked into the night
I turned, looked at the tent I had existed in
It was time to break Hell wide open



There wasn't anything in the tent that would go with me
In my bra ... I had all I needed
It was time to walk out of Hell ... do things I needed to do



My feet began walking away from my camp site
Up the small hill ... I stepped onto the sidewalk
Back onto the face of the earth ... I was alive!



I looked a sight .... unkempt, maybe dirty
As I could only bathe when the weather was warm
I probably smelled bad ... I wouldn't get near any living soul



I walked five miles ... I came to a house on Elm Street
It was my house ... it was furnished, utilities still on
I had paid for them each month ... using pay phones



I reached inside my bra for a small, purple and green purse
I unzipped it ... took a key out ... walked up onto the porch
Put the key inside the door ... opened it, went inside



Locking the door behind me ... I took a deep breath
Walked to the thermostat ... turned the heat higher
Went to the bathroom .... ran a hot tub of water



Pulled the rags off ... stuffed them into the waste basket
I wouldn't be needing them anymore
I was back home now ... I had some living to do



I turned the covers down on my bed
Slipped under them ... pulled me around me
I was cozy, warm ... I closed my eyes, slept



Got up the next day ... I began to live
I was a rich woman ... but, I hadn't lived like one
I had gone to live with the homeless people I loved



I knew now, I would begin making dreams come true
Not for myself ... for others who needed them desperately
I would begin with the homeless people I cared about



I would take money I was going to leave behind
While living until I died in the homeless world
Use it for good ... instead of leaving it for others to enjoy



I knew the first person I would help
I drove near where I knew he was ... a poor, broken soul
He was sitting on a bench ... holding his chest


His name was Vern ... an old, crippled man
He'd been homeless for many years
Because he was an alcoholic ... he couldn't live with anyone



His body trembled as he sat coughing, wheezing
Vern had emphysema, he was a sick man
I wanted him off the streets



I got out of my car, walked over to where Vern sat
He looked up at ... looked closer, smiled
He recognized me, called my name



Yes, it's me, Vern ... I came here to take you away
To a nice place for you to live in peace, safety until you die
It's a small travel trailer ... cozy, warm



It's in my back yard so, I can look after you
If you drink, it's okay ... you will be in your own home
No strings attached ... no one will hurt you, I'll watch over you



Vern looked up at me with his red-rimmed eyes
Tears flowed down his face
Sobs shook his shoulders as he cried



Come, Vern ... let's go home
He stood up, let me help him walk
To the car, get inside ... buckle up



I took Vern home to live out his life
He had good food, shelter ... safety
Vern lived out his life ... he lived there for 2 years



In the meantime, I helped many homeless people
Go to a home where they could live safely
No one to bother them ... they lived out their lives



I became happier each time I helped someone
I had a purpose in life ... saving the world
I couldn't save the whole world



But, I could save one person, one by one
Who knows how many I could save until the day I died
Yes, I had a lot of living ... a lot of giving to do before I died









Note by this Author:


I was thinking about living in the homeless world ... how one could just give up ... go there.  No one would care ... notice you are gone.


Why would I think such thoughts?  Because it's my nature to imagine, think about everything.  Because ... in today's time a person could end up homeless if they have become OLD ... have no money.  Unless ... angels watched over them, protected them from such.


Vern is a real homeless man whom I met earlier this month.  I had compassion for him.  He was sick with emphysema, and he said he had a drinking problem ... no one wanted him.


I had such compassion ... and wished so much to have extra money to give to him to make his life somehow better.  I didn't even have change on me.  He never asked for anything ... I just wanted to give.


I have a special feeling for homeless people.  I always have, always will.  When I wrote this poem ... I was imagining if I didn't have my world ... my Husband, Pups .... would I give up, just live until I die?


As I wrote ... I could feel myself resigned to die until Death brought out my fighting spirit ... I felt myself rise up ... realize I had a purpose in life.


I don't know my purpose in my life ... I'd like to think I'm not a wasted soul.  I hope somehow through writing I can touch others in a good way.  I'm not perfect ... I am a good person with a big Heart ... loving, caring.


Photo/poem owned, written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   


Friday, January 8, 2016

His Name is Vern ...

His Name is Vern ...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny on Twitter






Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny on Twitter








He was a homeless man we met yesterday when on the way to my doctor appointment. When I saw him ... he was drinking a drink from a bottle.  At first ... I didn't see signs that he was homeless ... my mind was on washing my hands.  




We stopped at a McDonald's in Raleigh, NC to eat a fish sandwich (we do that sometimes to remember Tommy).  We sat down next in a booth where a tv was ... there was a waist-high partition separating the table next to us.




Three men were sitting at the table.  I went to the bathroom to wash my hands just as one man got up to thank Skip for his service.  He could see by Skip's hat that he is a veteran.




When I got back to the booth ... Skip and the man were engaged in conversation.  Clearly the man was enjoying talking to Skip.  I began to watch the tv ... news ... that was above us.  I gradually began to listen to Skip and the man.




Two of the men's friends got up, left.  They said they'd see him later.  The man told Skip he used to be in the military ... he said he began to drink heavily while there.  He was very honest about how it affected his military career.  He was eventually discharged.




He told Skip his name as he talked.  Vern ... that was his name.  He didn't pay me a lot of attention. He was enjoying very much getting to talk to someone about something he knew something about.




He stopped talking ... looked straight at me.  He said that there was something he felt he needed to say to me ... he didn't know why ... but, he felt he needed to.




His words were ... "Fear not ... don't be afraid".  He went on to tell me what he meant ... and that everything was going to turn out good.  He hoped I wasn't offended that he told me.




Of course, I wasn't offended.  You see ... I believe we get special messages in unusual ways when least expected.  That's when I pay close attention.  This man didn't know anything about us ... I hadn't been talking ... just listening.




I listened to him ... my thoughts were how could he even know I was very worried about our life ... finances.  How could he know life was going to be very different for us than it has ever been?  How could he know I was ...  really very afraid?




We are at 'rock-bottom' ... I don't know if we can come back up from this time in our life.  Not only that ... I'm afraid for something else I'm having to open my eyes to ... I just didn't know.  I'm worried about someone I love with my very Heart.




I'm also, worried about our Camie, the little Australian Shepherd I rescued ... she isn't getting better. Yes, there is a lot in my life to worry about ... her health isn't the only health I'm worried about.  My whole world feels as if it will fall apart.  I just can't write about it at this time.




I needed to hear this from the homeless man.  I am still afraid, worried ... but ... Vern's words keep playing in my mind ... "Fear not, don't be afraid ... everything's going to turn out good."  I smile when I think how much those words meant to me when he was telling me.




Then ... I feel so sad.  Vern, the homeless man ... told me those comforting words ...  he was the one going back to the woods he lived in ... not a nice, warm home.




He has emphysema ... he told Skip when they were talking, that he didn't have long to live.  He seemed to have accepted it and was going on with his life.  His life ... he was a homeless man who had nothing.  It breaks my Heart.




I watched him smile, talk ... seem happy, have pride.  We had to leave ... we went our way, Vern went his.  When we got to the truck I told Skip I wished I'd had extra money to give Vern.  He never did, nor said anything about money.  I just wanted to do something good for him.  I couldn't.




As we drove off ... I waved to him as I saw him set off on his trek to wherever he was going.  He didn't see me.  I felt very sad for him.  His words ... about living in the woods where it was safer than living on the sidewalks ... played in my mind.  He said when one lived on the sidewalks ... they took the chance of being beaten up, killed.




Living in the woods was safer.  He told us about a friend of his ... he went into graphic detail of how his friend's face was beaten in.  He'd lived on the sidewalk.




If I happen to have extra money one day ... I'm going to go back looking for Vern, the homeless man. I will ask around until I find him.  I hope that I can do something good for him.  He touched my Heart.  I sort of have an idea 'where' he lives in the woods.




I see him in my mind's eye ... a tall, slender man with a beard, mustashe.  He had an old cap on ... and underneath his coat, he had another coat on.  I paid attention to his face ... I could tell he was a sick man.  I could see it in his eyes.  Yet ... he sat there enjoying talking to Skip ... then, to me.




I didn't pay attention to the people around us ... Skip said they were looking in disgust at the homeless man.  I'm not like that ... I saw him as a person who cared about other people ... had feelings ... a person who was sick, suffering.




He had to go back into the woods to live, sleep ... and you know how cold it is.  You and I would die from what he goes through.  And ... he has emphysema.  Why would I give a damn what the people around us ... thought?




I'm glad I didn't pay attention because ... in a nice, quiet way I would have reached out to them to ... care.  To just care ... just simply care.




Oh my ... try to imagine ... it doesn't matter how he ended up homeless ... I just hope you will add him to your prayers ... add this homeless man to your prayers that good things will happen to him.  His name is Vern.









Note by this Author:






This is a true story that happened just yesterday evening.  Today ... Vern has been on my mind.  It's raining today ... I pray he is in a dry, somehow ... warm place.  He is a very sick man.  He will always be in my prayers ... I may never see him again ... if I do ... I will tell you.






You never know who you are speaking to ... angels come in all shapes ... forms.






Photos/ true story owned, written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny on Twitter.


Tuesday, July 7, 2015

There Was One Person Left in the World ... to Remember Granny Gee!

There Was One Person Left in the World ... to Remember Granny Gee!
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny on Twitter







A young child saw an old woman sitting on the bench
In the park ... she seemed to be in deep thought
Old woman ... what are you thinking about, he asked



She turned her wrinkled face to him ... focused
Her green eyes began to crinkle into the biggest smile
Lips following by widening to show she had no teeth



The young boy watched in amazement as she laughed
Her shoulders shook ... she coughed several times
I was hoping someone like you would come along!



The young boy asked her why was she hoping for such!
He was afraid now ... why she might try to eat him
He had read Hansel and Gretel, and the mean woman



The old woman saw fear like a dark cloud
Move across his big, brown eyes to block the light
It immediately left once she began speaking to him



Little boy, go get your mama ... I have something important to say
I need to have her here because you are just a child
I have no one left in this old world ... I want to give you something



I have waited each day on this bench for a young child
To pay attention to me ... to notice an old woman
Everyone has forgotten about ... I have something for you



Bring your mama and we'll talk more with her here
Hurry now, I don't have much time
I may not be here tomorrow ... I need to see your mama now



The little boy turned to look for his mama
Saw her not too far away watching him
He waved for her to come ... she came quickly



Mama, the old woman wants to talk to you
She turned to the old woman who seemed to be asleep
Yes, how can I help you she asked the old woman



The old woman opened her green eyes
They lit up with the most beautiful smile
Her lips followed in a toothless grin



I have something for your little boy
There's no one else in this whole world
For me to leave it to ... I'm all alone now



I may not be here tomorrow, I don't have much time
Take this ... don't say a word, I know what I'm doing
Your little boy took time for me ... it meant the world



To have someone notice me before I die
Every day I have sat here hoping ... someone would see me
I thought I was invisible ... until your young child came along



Oh how wonderful it felt to hear a child's voice speak to me
I used to have a grandson once ... his mama kept him from me
I had a granddaughter too ... they are grown now



They never came looking for me as I hoped
That's okay ... I don't hurt anymore from that pain
Only from the pain in this old body I've lived in so long



I am homeless ... I am used to being that way
I've been for the past five years living on the street
Now ... it's time to give your young boy something



I won't be able to ever give my grandchildren
May I pretend for a moment your child
Is my grandson ... talk to him ... give him something from my heart



The mama nodded her head ... tears fell from her eyes
The old woman touched her heart ... she felt she was going to die
She saw it in the old woman's green, green eyes



What is your name, child?  My name is Stevie, I'm seven years old
Stevie, with your mama's permission I want to give you something
Something to make your life, her life ... much better



Would you like that? Stevie looked up at his mama
She nodded yes ... he looked back at the old woman, smiled
Mama says it's okay ... what can it be?



The old woman took out a shoe box wrapped in plastic
It was taped up securely to keep out the rain
She told the little boy ... this is for you and your mama



There's ten-thousand dollars in it ... it's all I have in this world
What?  Why, didn't I live in a house if I had so much?
I wanted to have something to be remembered by



I wanted to give it to grandchildren ... they didn't come
You are here, Stevie ... for the time-being ... you are my grandson
I want you to have this ... now, it's time for you to go



The mama started to object ... saw something in the old woman's eyes
The mama's lips began to tremble ... more tears came to her eyes
This old woman had made their life good ... now, she was going to die



Tears came into the old woman's eyes as she smiled her big smile
You've got to go now ... tell no one ... that's my gift to you
For caring for me ... in my last moments ... go now!



As the mama, son walked off they looked back
The old woman seemed to be in deep thought
She was looking at the sunshine ... the tears glistened on her face



They kept walking ... didn't look back to hear
The old woman say ... I've been waiting for you, son
I think it's time for me to come home now



She reached for his hand with hers ... if anyone noticed
They would see an old woman reach out into thin air
Never know she was seeing her son's hand



As she reached for his hand, the light went out of her eyes
Her hand fell gently to her lap
Head touched her chest ... she seemed to be asleep



If anyone noticed her ... they didn't
She sat there another week ... not in life but, in death
Someone came to take her body off



To dispose of it ... hell, she had no one
She was just one of the homeless they got every day
Never knowing, caring ... she used to be someone



Who had a family ... had a home ... a child ... grandchildren
If they had known ... they wouldn't have cared
That's the way it is ... who cares about the homeless?



They went through her pockets only to find
Nothing there ... the old woman had just been on time
She looked down upon her old body, smiled a young woman's smile



She floated around in new-found freedom
Bounced around the clouds like a young child
She'd made possible a good life for a young boy



She'd whispered in his ear her name
He would always remember her as ...
Granny Gee ... for a few moments he was her ... grandson



If one listened closely they would have heard
Happy laughter like wind chimes ringing on the air
There was one person left in the world to ... remember Granny Gee!





Photos/Poem owned, written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee/@GeeGranny on Twitter
Artwork by Gloria Faye Brown/aka Granny Gee



Note by this author:

This is a poem that came to mind as I sat thinking of what to write.  You know how it is when one daydreams ... thinks about things in their life.

This is just a reflection of some of those thoughts.  Oh ... this Granny Gee doesn't have ten-thousand dollars!  I wish!  :)  This is just a poem!