I guess because I live in the country, I don't see that many people on the side of the road... either hitch-hiking or anything really...
The other day I went to someone's house to do a mandolin-banjo lesson... had cash in pocket at the end of it...
As I passed through Elizabethtown, PA... the town I now live in... I saw 2 gals about 100 feet apart with cardboard signs in their hands... standing on the shoulder of the road...
As I passed the first one, I read the sign...
"Help! Need gas money to get home!"...
Then I passed the second one... her sign said the same thing...
Then I felt guilty... I had $30 from the lesson... and was heading to the grocery store... where I saw the 2 gals...
Neither one of them looked like bums... just your average person...
I turned around and stopped by one of them and gave her $5...
Her response: "God Bless you!"...
Jeez... it almost brought tears to my eyes...
I wanted to give the other one $5, but she was looking the other way and couldn't hear me yell at her... so I continued on and said a prayer for that someone would help her...
It wasn't too long ago, I was in financial straights myself... so I know what it's about...
But it makes you think...
There are no guarantees in this life... that job could be gone... they'll take your house, kick you out of your apartment...
It's a damned scary thought...
And it's real...
Tom