The Woman Who Sat on The Bridge.
Confronting my own prejudice.8 total reviews
Comment from susand3022
Hey Zee... How about the possibility of hating her again? I know you don't want to hear this but they aren't all what they seem. I'll admit there are a fair share of homeless people out there who genuinely need help... Vererans and such. There are loopholes that need closing. Stupid things, like you need an address to be able to get a job. What if you haven't got one? ... no... I'm not using that as an excuse... just something that just came to mind.
A few years ago, a story was done in one of the local papers about some of the homeless in the state... and how they weren't really homeless at all. There's a particular spot I know well, I was going past it often enough to be pretty familliar with the person who stood on the median in the road, at the light where you had to wait to go left to get on the Newport Bridge heading toward Jamestown. Well, one day I guess one of the Managers from Wal-Mart, in the plaza right next to there, was feeling sorry for her and went over and offered her a job. A full time job at that, something very hard to get these days. She turned him down flat. The reason?
Baby... I make more money here on this corner in a day then I could make there in a week, and it's all tax free.
These people fight for these spots. You get a good lucrative spot and you don't give it up.
During his next two days off, he wore his Wal-Mart uniform, and made a sign that said, "I offered her a full time job. She said No" and stood in front of her on the median.
It made the news after a day. LOL
I expect she didn't make any money at all for a good long time. But she didn't give up her spot! She knew it'd be lucrative again.
These days all of the disabled have jobs. Hell, my son works with an autistic kid. I used to work at group homes and I see all of them in grocery stors and Wal-Marts bagging and stocking shelves and such. They all work now. The only ones that don't are the ones that are very severely disabled.
Your doubts may well be justified after all... ;) ...
reply by the author on 15-Mar-2019
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Hey Zee... How about the possibility of hating her again? I know you don't want to hear this but they aren't all what they seem. I'll admit there are a fair share of homeless people out there who genuinely need help... Vererans and such. There are loopholes that need closing. Stupid things, like you need an address to be able to get a job. What if you haven't got one? ... no... I'm not using that as an excuse... just something that just came to mind.
A few years ago, a story was done in one of the local papers about some of the homeless in the state... and how they weren't really homeless at all. There's a particular spot I know well, I was going past it often enough to be pretty familliar with the person who stood on the median in the road, at the light where you had to wait to go left to get on the Newport Bridge heading toward Jamestown. Well, one day I guess one of the Managers from Wal-Mart, in the plaza right next to there, was feeling sorry for her and went over and offered her a job. A full time job at that, something very hard to get these days. She turned him down flat. The reason?
Baby... I make more money here on this corner in a day then I could make there in a week, and it's all tax free.
These people fight for these spots. You get a good lucrative spot and you don't give it up.
During his next two days off, he wore his Wal-Mart uniform, and made a sign that said, "I offered her a full time job. She said No" and stood in front of her on the median.
It made the news after a day. LOL
I expect she didn't make any money at all for a good long time. But she didn't give up her spot! She knew it'd be lucrative again.
These days all of the disabled have jobs. Hell, my son works with an autistic kid. I used to work at group homes and I see all of them in grocery stors and Wal-Marts bagging and stocking shelves and such. They all work now. The only ones that don't are the ones that are very severely disabled.
Your doubts may well be justified after all... ;) ...
Comment Written 15-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 15-Mar-2019
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Thanks for reading and reviewing. She may have been all those things you suggest. I never considered her to be homeless. I just hated her for not putting more into her begging routine. I needed her to look appreciative, say thank you, with enthusiasm. In the end, I just wanted her to go away. She was spoiling my lovely landscape. But to think one person could inspire such anger in me is kind of sad.
Comment from Gloria ....
This is really good. I enjoyed it right from the first line right down to the last line. The anger and resentment and downright hatred building with each day having to pass oneself sitting on a bridge in the body of another woman. I mean how could she be so insensitive to the harm she was causing you. ;-)
Brutally honest and superb social commentary. It's the only way it can be written.
Gloria
reply by the author on 15-Mar-2019
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This is really good. I enjoyed it right from the first line right down to the last line. The anger and resentment and downright hatred building with each day having to pass oneself sitting on a bridge in the body of another woman. I mean how could she be so insensitive to the harm she was causing you. ;-)
Brutally honest and superb social commentary. It's the only way it can be written.
Gloria
Comment Written 15-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 15-Mar-2019
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Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.
Comment from Mastery
Hi, Zee. Now you've done it! You ae making people look at themselves. Not a bad thing unless you are me. Truth hurts. You have done a great job here, I think you probably know that.
Great summation, my friend: "I find it much easier to love rich, beautiful people. People who might look down on me with kindness, and (hopefully) won't see me as a pigeon, pecking my way through life."
Bless you, my friend. No sixes left, but this sure as hell deserves one. :) Bob
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Hi, Zee. Now you've done it! You ae making people look at themselves. Not a bad thing unless you are me. Truth hurts. You have done a great job here, I think you probably know that.
Great summation, my friend: "I find it much easier to love rich, beautiful people. People who might look down on me with kindness, and (hopefully) won't see me as a pigeon, pecking my way through life."
Bless you, my friend. No sixes left, but this sure as hell deserves one. :) Bob
Comment Written 14-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Thanks Bob. This made me look in the mirror. I wasn?t pleased with my reflection.
Comment from Shirley McLain
This was a very sad story to read. Homeless people are a sad segment of our population. Some of them choose to be there and some don't. You did a good job. have a blessed afternoon. Shirley
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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This was a very sad story to read. Homeless people are a sad segment of our population. Some of them choose to be there and some don't. You did a good job. have a blessed afternoon. Shirley
Comment Written 14-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.
Comment from Jeffrey L. Michaux
I like this. The reason I like this is because you were BRUTALLY honest and didn't try to sugarcoat or hold back. Even though some things may be unpleasant and hurtful, I can always respect honesty without pretense. I'm not one for pretense. If someone were to hate me because of my skin color and didn't pretend like they did, I wouldn't like it. I would respect them though because they didn't pretend to like me. Perhaps what I said and what you've shared aren't quite the same, but similar. Thanks for sharing this honest and well written story. Well done!
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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I like this. The reason I like this is because you were BRUTALLY honest and didn't try to sugarcoat or hold back. Even though some things may be unpleasant and hurtful, I can always respect honesty without pretense. I'm not one for pretense. If someone were to hate me because of my skin color and didn't pretend like they did, I wouldn't like it. I would respect them though because they didn't pretend to like me. Perhaps what I said and what you've shared aren't quite the same, but similar. Thanks for sharing this honest and well written story. Well done!
Comment Written 14-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. I still don?t understand the ?why? of my anger with this woman. Apparently she represented a mirror I was continually forced to look into. We humans are complicated. Even though I don?t understand my prejudice against this woman, I do recognize my own failure to feel empathy for her. I?m afraid my anger was fueled by my superior attitude that she must behave in a humble way to deserve my generosity. As if to say, ?if I?m going to be nice to you, you owe me.? The more I think about it, the uglier I get. Years ago I read a book titled, ?the magnificent obsession?. Perhaps I need to read it again. The protagonist helped people with the understanding: They were never tell anyone and they were never to repay him. He said, otherwise, he could not be fully rewarded. Great concept. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This is a very brave write and it is hard to admit that we have that ugliness inside us. My husband was a generous humanitarian and would give his last penny to the man on the street. He died 10 years ago and I now have a partner who feels like you do about beggars on the street and berates me when I offer a coin. Knowing these two men has taught me that my partner has fear of being that person on the street, whereas my husband felt that if he was that person, he hoped that someone would be generous toward him. My biggest fear is being homeless, I have worked all my life and I live comfortably now and I realise it is easy to make judgements about other people who have not been so fortunate. Your words are from the heart, you have been honest about your feelings and I enjoyed your journey here and award you a six, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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This is a very brave write and it is hard to admit that we have that ugliness inside us. My husband was a generous humanitarian and would give his last penny to the man on the street. He died 10 years ago and I now have a partner who feels like you do about beggars on the street and berates me when I offer a coin. Knowing these two men has taught me that my partner has fear of being that person on the street, whereas my husband felt that if he was that person, he hoped that someone would be generous toward him. My biggest fear is being homeless, I have worked all my life and I live comfortably now and I realise it is easy to make judgements about other people who have not been so fortunate. Your words are from the heart, you have been honest about your feelings and I enjoyed your journey here and award you a six, love Dolly x
Comment Written 14-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Thank you so much for your most generous review. I appreciate your taking the time to read my work.
Comment from LovnPeace
Confronting our own worse selves with honesty, is one of the hardest things we will ever do IMHO. It takes more courage then most people allow. Thank you for sharing. Blessings, Barbara
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Confronting our own worse selves with honesty, is one of the hardest things we will ever do IMHO. It takes more courage then most people allow. Thank you for sharing. Blessings, Barbara
Comment Written 14-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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Thank you so much for reading and the most generous review.
Comment from humpwhistle
We all have irrational fear and loathing. I zero in on a particular squirrel in my backyard. But that's another story.
Somebody said, 'Everything we hate reminds us of us.'
If this was fiction, I'd suggest you laid it on a bit thick.
But non-fiction must be believed.
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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We all have irrational fear and loathing. I zero in on a particular squirrel in my backyard. But that's another story.
Somebody said, 'Everything we hate reminds us of us.'
If this was fiction, I'd suggest you laid it on a bit thick.
But non-fiction must be believed.
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 14-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2019
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It?s true. At least, now, I can see it for what it was. I think I hated her because I couldn?t change the situation. She was a constant reminder of how lucky I was and how shallow I was. Thanks for the review.
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No, I don't doubt the story. I just wonder if you might be seeing your younger self in too harsh a light. Guilt has a way of magnifying itself.
