after helping serve food today for the homeless and nobody else got in line, i noticed an elder black woman by herself eating a tuna fish sandwich. she was looking at me and smiled, so i went up to talk to her. she told me she actually frequented this area, NOT to get food, but to shower. everyday. my respect for her jumped after hearing that, knowing that homeless are often depicted as having not showered(no offense, but the fact is some of them can SMELL). she went on to say that many of the homeless that we helped serve today probably traverse around, looking for different places to get free food, some even being picky and not liking the food they gave out in certain areas(commented about one person not liking the food and going to hit up a nearby church). me, she said, i know that food isn't the most important thing; i have to do other things each day, y'kno, she commented. i said something to the extent that a person in these circumstances should just be HAPPY to get food at all for free. i tried asking her for her name(so that i could remember her), but she declined, thinking i was possibly one of those spies or what not who could report others.

nevertheless, i was impressed by her thoughts. i wished more homeless people had her mentality in mind. contrast that with the elder taiwanese folks cat was talking to in mandarin while this coversation of mine and hers was going on(don't quote me on that one though; i kinda forgot what cat said she got while talking to them).

when she mentioned the showering, she explained how she had to air out the shower room before showering each day, explaining they spray the area with cologne? each day. she joked how Satan must be in charge of doing it, because it takes so long, the smell's so pungeant, etc. i simply remarked jokingly "that bastard," to which she replied "well, he's always a bastard, but more so here in california."