New year's eve, I was driving back from Eugene. I stopped at a Rest Stop, and there was a gentleman "panhandling", for a lack of a better word. These guys are at every rest stop along I-5 NB and SB in Oregon. Their signs are all the same ilk, "disabled vet" is a popular one. "out of gas" is also well played. "Trying to make it home" That one is used primarily by the younger vagrants, perhaps playing up to a parent's sympathetic nature when it comes to a child in distress.
But the guy I saw was in bad shape. He was older, thin and frail, almost sickly. His clothes were wet and filthy and he looked like he could use a warm meal. So I reached into my pocket and pulled out all the $ I had on me. Fifty cents. (I rarely carry cash.) I walked to him as he stood at the entrance by the restrooms to give him what I hoped wasnt money for booze. But I was cut off by a gentleman with a quick walk who I saw push a $20 into the bum's hand right as I extended my hand to give him my loose change.
There was awkward eye contact shared between the homeless guy and myself before I sulked back to my car.
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