Hey, Anybody got any Rolling Papers?

Time for a Rollie

Welcome to po’fokes, of which I am one. Also a Vietnam Vet, so that about says it all, huh? Just thought I’d take this opportunity to welcome you to this blogspot, such as it is, and to let you know that while I’ve always pretty much been poor, I haven’t always been homeless, although I’ve had a few good stints at it. About once every ten years or so I seem to blow my life up, and then end up running away from home, whatever or wherever that is at the moment, and find myself on the street again, scarred silly I’m gonna have to freeze this time. I have learned that you probably aren’t going to starve, although you will loose weight, unless you’re injured, or just plain stubborn, enough that you can’t make it to some place where they offer free-food. It ain’t always the greatest, but it’s better than nothing. Also, donuts and free coffee are pretty much de rigueur when you’re on the lam.

Twice I’ve found myself working in homeless shelters, in Sacramento and in Santa Cruz, and once the family went to live on the Yuba River, down by the Bridgeport Bridge outside of Grass Valley and Nevada City, if you know where they are. We built this little twelve foot square cabin out of mill ends, and the “ex” fixed it up inside quite nicely so that it sort of looked like a motor home, with all kinds of little built in nooks and crannies and double-duty tables and such. We stayed there for six months. The other two times (homeless, officially) I was on my own, and although I’ve spent a few nights out in some field, and just wandering around trying to keep warm (I hate being cold), and lived in the back seat of my 88 Ford Festiva for more than a month, when some idiot burned the house we were all flopping in down, I’ve been fairly lucky in managing to find some sort of work for minimal pay, and have managed at least to rent a room somewhere, and for the most part stayed warm. Why in the world anyone who is homeless and on the street or in a tent wants to live up North I have no freaking idea. Although I’ve known a lot of guys (in particular) who don’t seem to be much bothered by it all. Wish I could say that.

I’m also sixty years old now, and homelessness just doesn’t get any easier with age. Particularly, if, like me, you haven’t always taken that good care of yourself. I smoke, and don’t particularly watch my diet, although high-cholesterol has never been a problem of mine. I do have what is known as atrial fibrillation which means the top half of my heart doesn’t beat in sinc with the bottom half, and, particularly when I’m stressed, it makes you short of breath, and feeling not at all healthy. I’ve also got a prostate about the size of a basketball, so that doesn’t help much either. Never can sleep for more than about 3 hours at most without having to get up. Okay, well this I promise you will be the last time I talk about my medical maladies, and so from here on out it’s all about other stuff.

You, however, are certainly welcome to share whatever maladies are getting you down, or complicating your life somehow. I don’t mind talking about other people’s problems. Also if you’d just like to have at it and get stuff off your chest go for it. Just don’t be obnoxious – that always pisses me off and I’ll have to delete your comments. Otherwise, let’er rip. Say whatever’s on your mind – that’s what this blog is for.