This photo is not Stacy but it could be. On Friday in Franklin, TN the temp hovered around freezing. After enjoying lunch in a local restaurant I approached the intersection in my car where the homeless lady was selling copies of the The Contributor (www.thecontributor.org) Nashville's street newspaper written by the homeless and former homeless. Through my open window I exchanged a dollar for a copy of the paper. The lady smiled with broken teeth and said "Thank you. Stay warm." Stay warm. With no saracasm or even intended irony this gracious homeless person standing in the cold tells me, sitting comfortably in a heated automobile with a toasty home in the distance, to stay warm. I just sort of crumbled inside.
I proceeded to my gym for my workout but was haunted by the kind words of the homeless woman. The workout was cut short as was the time in the steamroom. Stay warm, she said. And I was. Warm gym, soothing steamroom, hot shower. I left and returned to the intersection and parked and walked to the lady and asked her, "How do you like your coffee?" I asked. "Cream & sugar" she said with a slight smile. "Thank you". I went into Panera's and came back with coffee. She seemed nervous and the eye contact was brief. "I'm Ramon, what's your name?" "Stacy" she replied. "Thank you for the coffee". "You're welcome, Stacy."
She returned to her post on Mallory Blvd and I to my car. I don't know where Stacy is on this bitterly cold night, hopefully a shelter. I'm at home. Staying warm.
--rLp--
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