Thursday, May 8
We the selfish gene!
I had the opportunity to witness "homeless" people in New York City! Not that I had not seen them or was not aware of their existence around in here. It only struck me yesterday that I never thought of what they actually do for shelter and food. Here I was at a charity missionary, that provided shelter and food for a few homeless people in Soho, serving their dinner. It was an experience.
Six of us(all my colleagues) went down to this place in Soho around 6 after work while the sun still shone bright. When my colleague asked me if I would like to volunteer, I only saw this as a good opportunity to be outside on a beautiful day like this(Summer is around! Yay!). Not that we did a whole lot there. All we did was clean up the place, set the table for serving dinner, serve dinner and clean up all the vessels, trays and the place. I was amazed to see the kind of people who come in as homeless. My friend had warned me about this. Looks do not qualify them so at the least. What was commendable was how generous we were allowed to be when serving. We were told that we can serve as much as they ask. I was serving the desserts, there were three kinds of them. Sometimes they asked for all three, sometimes 2 of the same and nothing too. The food was great, not to forget. Obviously as expected owing to the good food, there were a few students there too.
What surprised me at the end was when a whole lot of food was thrown after it was all done. When we asked, we were told there is never dearth of food to serve. Food and food materials keep coming in. There is only so much you can serve and store. So, food gets thrown away. And them all in quite an amount!
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I am so out of the age when I sat and analyzed all that a guy would tell me!! "what'd he mean?!, was that a hint!.. blah blah". Guess I am coming of age. Times that pass by have taught me, I know for a fact that in the end I am the one who should be convinced of it all. Not naive, not dumb for the sweet nothings! I look back and laugh at how naive I was and now I am glad how I have grown up to be. How secure and comfortable I am now can only be explained by how much fun I have without taking anything seriously and analyzing all that happens around me. It is indeed comforting to reach the stage when you can know that if something has to happen, it will happen irresepective of any number of analysis! So yeah, I love not to do that anymore and just have fun while it lasts! Boy! Am I happy.
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13 May
The path lady
So everyday when I take the path back home from office I see the old lady, homeless, who gets food from the burgerking or McD in the underground station. She lies down in a pile of worn out comforters with a trunk. Needless to say, felt pity. Not anymore! Yesterday, she was chatting away to glory on her cell phone! Can you believe that! How is that you beg for food and yet have money to support your mobile phone bills?! Beyond me!
It reminds me of freakonomics. Awesome book! Wait until I finsih it and write about how much I love it and why!
So long...
4 comments:
After the food gets thrown away, the same people would vote for McCain who would stand up and shout that India and China cause food crises and carbon emission overload and what not... sigh! Americans Americans!
But reminds me of this time when I volunteered for an ice cream bonanza where the monies paid went to charity... there were tiny tots who paid me for tiny scoops of ice cream in quarters and then added the rest of the jingling coins for 'friends' who needed 'em. It is also the same Americans who exemplify the saying "charity begins at home". We live with contradictions on a daily basis... no wonder am heading to a split personality!
- Cuckoo
I have read about and seen shelters on TV so can relate to your post. The throwing food bit is really annoying. We are heading towards a food crisis and being a developed nation the US should lead the way. Unfortunately they don't...not only in this respect but even in terms of per person carbon emissions or energy consumption. Ahh can someone just hold them by the shoulders and shake them so they wake up and smell the coffee!!!
that is rather freaky.....but back home there's a beggar near moti bagh in delhi who comes in an auto and starts begging....how's that huh!
LOL. Beggars are a lot in themselves!
I can identify with the second part...it makes life so much easier and pleasant indeed!
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