Amazing

It was a beautiful day on Waikiki Beach: sunny with blue sky peeking around the patches of white clouds, tourists happily splashing in the warm water, and children’s laughter skimming the air. Ideal except for the nagging memory of Anderson Cooper’s documentary about homeless people I had just watched the previous day.  He talked about how we dehumanize them, we ignore them, try not to look them in the eye.  Yes, I have been guilty.  There are many homeless in the areas here where I walk every day.  Today I needed to be different.  It was time to look them in the eye, to acknowledge they were there and to talk. 

I approached a man sitting in front of a planter on Kalakaua Blvd, the main street on Waikiki Beach.  He had a bucket next to him with a sign:  JOBLESS, Donations needed.  I dropped a few dollars in and sat beside him.  I introduced myself, his name was Shawndy.   Then I asked if he had a story to tell me.  First, he questioned me about what kind and I said anything would do.  He shared that he has lived in Hawaii he entire life, he’s 29 now.  He wanted me to know that he is not homeless.  It concerned him that too many people thought that.  He lives in a 3 bedroom house with his parents, brother, brother’s wife and some kids and maybe more family members.  I couldn't keep up.  He sleeps on the couch in the living room. 

I asked if he ever had a job and, giving no excuses, he said not really.  He shared that people could be mean.  Once they had hung him out the window of a high rise.  He has been beat and had his money stolen.  He talked about not understanding people who whined about why god had given them such obstacles.  He thought it a waste of time to be sad, mad or angry. 

“I kill them with kindness,” Shawndy said of those who were angry.  “Sometimes it just makes them angrier,” he grinned saying he had no time for such emotions. 

“And those who ignore me?  I kill them with kindness!” He laughed.  As we were chatting, a man stopped with a soda.  Looking uncomfortable, he asked where he could put it.  Shawndy nodded towards his lid covered bucket.  When I got up to leave, Shawndy also got up.  I thanked him for his time and for sharing what he did.  I couldn't shake his hand because he had no arms.  He was no more than 3 feet tall and moved with a severe limp.  He was barefooted and had 2 toes on each foot.  I nodded and smiled and he did the same.  As I turned to go, the 4 inch numb protruding from his shoulder was reaching around the cup as he dipped his head to take a drink.

I was humbled.