Ham

I can't help it, I am a camera hog. Dude on my right looks like he wants to punch my lights out. I did my monthly volunteer work to help beautify ugly parts of SF. Unfortunately, this particular clean up was at a High School that specializes in art, and there wasn't that much beautifying to do. These kids keep the place very clean and I was happy to see all of their works on display outside in their courtyard. We basically picked up discarded trash thrown from car windows that passed by. I will never throw trash outside my window again. I'll wait until I get to a trash can. Pretty lazy of us. How can a little bit of garbage bother us so much to make us throw it out the window? Anyway, I spoke with my old parole officer during the entire time. He gave me nothing but praise as far as my parole behavior is concerned. He's a cool guy, who loves to give advice, and when he does he uses the us and we statements instead of "You have to set goals for yourself and achieve them............." He said he believes I will be off parole in June.

Speaking of parole, I listened to a radio interview with the former warden at San Quentin who now is the director of some high post in the Corrections dept. She said she is totally against having non violent parolees on parole after they finish their sentence. Only 2 states do this and it only keeps our prison population up because of minor violations by non violent offenders. Other states that so not have this policy, do not have more crime. They have more money to spend on schools and public works projects. she pointed out how each parole agent has an overloaded caseload. She said that if we eliminated parole for non violent offenders, these agents could concentrate on the parolees who need supervision, The violent and serious offenders. The 5 officers who were shot a few weeks ago by a violent offender on parole might be alive and well today if more resources were put into helping and watching these guys. Instead, agents half to spend most of their days riding around on patrol looking for a guy who missed an appointment and have to arrest them for the parole warrant that went out for them.


OK enough of that.

I was in a major funk when I woke up Sat. night to go to work. My jovial spirit was in the dumper and my co workers noticed because they were looking at me wide eyed and nervous because of the rotten expression I was wearing on my face. It was going to be a long night filled with crappy thoughts and self pity.

On my third top, an older woman was watching me load the order into a cafe. It took me about 5 minutes because it was a big order. When I had finished, AI noticed she was still staring at me in a nervous way. so I walked 10 feet up to her and asked if there was anything wrong. She told me she had missed the bus and was stranded outside all night because of a fight with her roommate. She said she was going to ride the buses all night until the morning when she could go home while he was gone. She asked me for a ride to a busier part of town where she could get on a bus. We were in a very deserted part of the city at 2 in the morning. I said OK, but you better not stab me.

When we reached my next delivery, I asked her if she really wanted to ride the buses all night and she was welcome to ride with me all night until 9 in the morning. I explained I was driving to Berekley, Oakland, San Jose, Saratoga, Redwood City and Millbrae, and then back to SF. She thought for a moment and said OK. I said, "listen, I am not going to hurt you, I just think you might need a little help." She said, "I read people very well and I already know that"

Along the route we talked and talked and talked. My6 problems, her problems, politics, film, you name it. She gave me such great advice to what had been bothering me since I woke up, and much more on different subjects. I fed her, Gave her her favorite juice, Odwalla Superfood, and then when I saw she was desperately trying to stay awake when the sun was coming up, I tilted he seat back and told her to take a nap. she was out cold in a matter of seconds.

I have a heavy heart whenever I see an older woman who is in trouble. Whether there bag ladies, homeless, panhandlers it just breaks my heart. I always try to give them a little something to help ease whatever burden they might be facing. But I had never done anything like this.

We got back to the city at 9 and i dropped her off at her favorite cafe on Leavenworth St and we thanked each other for the kindness. She was definitely sent to me by god. She was one of my guardian angels because without her who knows how I might have reacted to being in such a foul mood. Here's a picture of her on the bottom and if I ever see her again, I'm going to take her out for lunch or coffee. And more thearpy!

Until next time

Art-van Gogh a hero, AI love his story

Angel-Sarah Mclaughlin