Category: Straddling the Curb

Re-gifting!

Yesterday, I thought of Delores who lives on the 18th floor and decided to wrap her a Christmas present because I was sure she had not received a one! I re-used some Grinch  paper from a frantic hour of opening; the environment as it is, I can’t bare to trash it all and intend to encourage my granddaughter to use it in some sort of creative way next time she visits. The re-gifts to my friend, who lives alone in Toronto Housing as do I and is a decade older and always telling me how cold she feels in her apartment, consisted of a pair of warm woman’s socks purchased at The Dollar Store, and a fleece throw some nice guy gave Streetgirl on Boxing Day (also re-gifting), and, finally, a long  grey open style sweater passed to me by my hostess Peggy as she unloaded her crammed closet on Christmas day upon Cathy and I. Meantime, Keeba played like a pup with her new found friend Murphy who was three and happy as could be to have a guest; Sara the Sheppard chilled on the couch and we all eagerly awaited host Brian’s delicious holiday dinner, 

Back to my neighbor Delores! When I knocked upon her door last night, bearing gifts, my goodness wasn’t she just thrilled to the point of tears. The sweater fit perfect and the soft white shawl wrapped around black shoulders brought out an angelic smile and warmed her heart. We hugged and kissed over and over and she cried with happiness someone had thought of her. I left feeling blessed for the moment! That is the true joy of giving!

Yummy Cabbage Rolls!

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor,” Proverbs 22.9

Many thanks to the nice guy who passed Streetgirl a huge container packed with delicious homemade cabbage rolls yesterday afternoon. Not quite enough to feed an army, but plenty for sharing with three hungry neighbors!

A Dog’s Eye View – Raptors Reflection!

raptor reflection

The reflective photography was practiced under the pretense of taking a picture of Buddy’s new second hand mint condition truck. In reality, while heading up his driveway to drop my poop bag into the green bin, Mother caught a glimpse of her own visage in the window and couldn’t resist a selfie. That’s why we spy 3 images of her and only 1 of the vehicle. Mom thinks it turned out cool and that she looks like a Hoodlum or a Hollywood Paparazzi straddling with a beautiful beach in the background! U can’t see it clearly, but she is wearing a 2016 Drake Night Raptors jersey. Continue reading “A Dog’s Eye View – Raptors Reflection!”

Quotes from Streets: Standing Tall

“Stand tall, don’t you fall oh, don’t go and do something foolish,” Burton Cummings, 1976

“Hey, where you been? Aren’t you working now?” Streetgirl asks the younger panhandler who she hasn’t seen for a few months.

“I lost the job, my home burned down, and my Dad died after being diagnosed with stage four cancer; a blessing in the sense that he didn’t suffer long.” With sadness in her eyes she described being “so depressed.” Back now, ready to humble her-self once again in order to survive. To stand tall and “keep on going.”

All Streetgirl could offer the other was a hug. Such is life!

Still Alive!

Jeff almost died from an overdose last month, but by sheer luck and/or the Grace of God he did not!  This is what he told me when I paused to say hello on my way to a long postponed mammogram; a symptom of severe anxiety drives me to defer essential medical appointments among other things, but this year I am pushing forward and forcing myself do what may seem simple to you. Continue reading “Still Alive!”

Quotes from Streets: Not Alone

strugglingsign

“I am in the same shoes as you,” he says “struggling too.”

“Life is hard,” the panhandler responds.

The  man  with greying hair wants to talk and Streetgirl is empathetic. One should not righteously receive so much from others without taking the time to return the favor in kind.

“I’ve worked in real estate for 26 years and I haven’t sold one property this past year. I may lose it all,” his eyes begin to well as he holds back tears. They reach out and grasp hands for a second, blessing one another as the light changes and he must move on.

“I know you are going to sell a house real soon,” Streets assures him waving goodbye and hopes that is the case.

 

Quotes from Streets: Farewell Friend

Seeking solace and a blessed place to say her prayers, Streetgirl flew her sign yesterday, straddling the curb and strolling up and down the island. Those same paths that her panning peer, so-tagged The Veteran, had ambled thousands of times. It was chilly,  but they’d been out in far worse weather and enjoyed it too; a freedom of sorts. If it was Joe he would be wearing a toque, thin shirt under a jacket year-round day and night, and sandals without socks; even though someone had given him a pair of boots two months before his passing.  Thrilled to tell the tale, how he’d been snoozing in the sun behind the gas station when a guy came by and offered to take him to Canadian Tire to buy a winter coat and footwear. One of so many kind gestures afforded him by strangers. That night they dumped his dirty smelly old one down the garbage shoot in our building as a ceremonial gesture and he donned the gift until the day he died. Continue reading “Quotes from Streets: Farewell Friend”

Quotes from Streets: Musical Trivia!

A five dollar bill visible in one hand the woman pokes her head partway out the window and says, “Quick question. Who is the composer?”

Never been strong on trivia, perhaps due to perceived trauma Christmas 1980, 20 years old and playing the brand new board game sensation “Trivial Pursuit” with the family, led by an intellectual and dominating father and two older smarty-pants brothers; she was bound to lose. However, today the unmistakable ominous first four notes of “Symphony No. 5” coming from inside the car jogged Streetgirl’s mind to emit an immediate unwavering response.

“Beethoven!”

And the music lover passes the money with a smile, “You win.”