Daytona and Homeless

This is  the third part of observations in the city. Today, while shopping I noticed our guy in the shopping plaza area. He had parked his bike, fully loaded with all his worldly belongings, about four stores away from where he sat. Upon first sight, he blended into the mainstream. He was sitting on a bench outside of a store having something to eat. Why he parked his bike so far away is any ones guess. It could be that he secretly wants to feel like an everyday functioning man. To me , it seems he is reaching out in his efforts. He greets people but I still have yet to see anyone interact with him.  At the park, he does the same, he will park the bike and walk around and blend quite nicely. He is not the stereo type homeless man. I have never seen him without his sunglasses or hat. I am sure when the park closes at night, he becomes totally himself when no one is around. It is already October and the temperatures are still warm. Once the temperatures drop, I can only hope he can stay warm. When my son was in college, he was in charge of a sleep out in the middle of winter in New York. It was to show awareness of the real problems that the homeless face. When I lived in New York, I remember one homeless man that walked the city day and night. He used to find warmth in open hallways to stay out of the cold. This man always had money and his problem was a mental one. He once had a normal life and something went array and he took the streets and made that his way of life. This man never bathed in any way and when he went into a store, the smell was obvious. Our man in Daytona is almost systematic in his routine and he does not appear to smell and frequents the local McDonald’s. It is probably because he has access to running water in the park and still has his mental faculties to clean himself up. This is the reason I believe he is  a vet, because of his survival instincts. People, in general tend to stay clear of him. When in contact with a homeless person, take the time to at the very least smile at them. They will appreciate the human interaction. It costs nothing to smile and nod to acknowledge their presence. When my son lived in Philadelphia, he used to leave his old clothes in a box for the homeless on the street. Did they pick them up? Yes, of course they did . We have to have compassion for our countries lost so