More Things

Hello,

Leroy and I worked on two of our closets switching winter coats and spring jackets around. That also swept a bit larger and included some of the boxes that are in the closets.  We added a little bit to our give away pile, three twin sized blankets and two down coats. The blankets we have not used in the year we have been here. Besides we still have two extra blankets besides all of the ones that are on the beds right now. We should be covered. We have not worn the down coats in the last two years so neither of us feels a strong urge to hang onto them any longer. My coat was purchased in 2000, so it has had some staying power even if not worn very often. I do think I will wait until closer to the winter season before giving away these things as I am not sure how much space the mission has for storage. For sure, homeless people do not need to have a winter coat as summer approaches.

Once when we were in Salt Lake in the hot summer we were downtown waiting for the light rail when a good looking man sat next to me dressed in a very nice, very warm looking winter coat. Perhaps I stared a little, because he conversationally asked, “Do you like my coat?”

“It is a very nice coat,” I replied wondering why he was not sweating buckets in the 90 degree heat.

“It is a very nice coat,” he agreed and added, “I like it very much.”

When relating this tale to Miriam she assured me, “He was very likely one of our clients at the homeless shelter. He perhaps did not like to leave his prize possession where others might take it.”

Paula