Have you ever come across something that made you pause and just stare and then wonder? It was so comical that you giggled…a lot. And then, in the aftermath you realized that the reality wasn’t really that funny and really a bit sad?
Pulling onto
the highway I marveled that if a person was that flipping tired, why go to the
library in the first place? Why not stay
home and go to bed? I certainly wouldn’t
rush out in public where I was sure to make a complete ass of myself!! Then I was struck by another thought…maybe he
is homeless! It is cold outside. If I had nowhere to go, I would head to a
public place where I could stay warm at least until they closed and I had to
move on. It was when I pulled into my
driveway and let myself into my warm home that I began to feel sorry for him
and even felt grateful that I didn’t share his fate. How awful it would be to be homeless, cold,
and maybe even hungry. Of course, maybe
he was just tired. Maybe he had a long
day and had an urgent need to use the computer at the library. I mentioned to my kids that maybe the library
was the only place he had to go to get warm and feel safe enough to sleep.
Maybe, just maybe he had nowhere else to go.
The giggles that so completely engulfed us before became a memory as we all contemplated that little tidbit. I am sure; if I were him the last thing I would want is someone’s pity no matter how much help I needed to survive. Of course, if I was that desperate to find a warm, safe place, I probably wouldn’t care at that point what the hell other people thought. I would simply feel blessed to have somewhere to be where I could be warm and safe if only for a little while. Whatever his situation and place in life, I am sure he is doing the very best he can and I wish him well. You can never truly understand another person’s motives unless you have walked in their shoes.
Okay, first of all, I can't believe that you didn't get one flippin' picture of this so the rest of us could share in your laughter. Second, he was probably some loser who was out at the bar all night and didn't want to go home so he thought he'd duck into the library where the bar crowd and his wife would surely not come looking for him and he passed out at the computer station. That's where I'm bankin' my cash. AND, he was probably trying look up some porn!
ReplyDeleteMimi, you may be right! LOL If so he had spent the whole day drying out at the library because we didn't get there until almost 7 pm. Secondly, I would have been mortified to whip out a cell phone and take this dude's picture since I go there regularly and the people who work there know me. Thank you for stopping by and for your fun comments. As usual, you made me laugh! ♥
DeleteYes, that's a very sad prospect if the man was homeless. I used to see them all the time in the Boston Public Library when I was in college. And riding the city buses in San Francisco on cold or rainy days.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, they were pretty frequent visitors when I worked at the library. I always seen them when I went upstairs...always. I worked in the basement so I never was around the patrons much. I also seen them when I went to college in Nashville, Tennessee...especially early in the morning if I was coming back from a weekend at home. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥
Deletetrust me... have slept in worse situations at times. Necessity can make u ignore the public .. as u said, we cant know the full story. its possible he's happily content and just a lazy ass... but yes, it could also be that this was his solace from the harsh realities that awaited outside.
ReplyDeleteRoshan, there is always the possibility. We just will never know. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteI am pretty sure public librarians deal with a lot more of that stuff than we academic librarians do. In a way I'm glad I don't have to deal with it. But in another way I know that puts me in the "I am happy that I am ignorant because it's more blissful this way" category, which I am not particularly proud to be in.
ReplyDeleteTrisha, I would rather not deal with it either to be perfectly honest with you. I have heard plenty of stories about the stuff that goes on in public libraries having worked in one in the past but I have rarely witnessed anything going on personally. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteOne time I fell down in public and everyone (strangers) laughed so hard. A.d I was crying. And I sprained my ankle...it's hard not to laugh, but it's good to consider the other person.
ReplyDeletequirkychrissy, I have fallen down in public too and literally laughed my fool head off. It was hard for others not to join with me. Sometimes you just got to laugh! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
Deleteoh yes!! What a funny sight! LOL!! you should have taken a picture! :D
ReplyDeleteThat song is simply awesome isn't it?! :)
pixie, oh yes...love the song and Michael Buble does wonderful things with it. I am so happy you enjoyed my post! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteSometimes appearances are deceiving but if i was in his position i had rather be laughed it than be pitied for i would laugh it off myself later.
ReplyDeleteSivakarthik, I would have to agree with you. Laughter is better than pity. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteThere are some situations that really tickle you... I could imagine the sight of him...but later you sometimes wish you hadn't laughed in that person, unintentionally it might look insensitive or hurt that person. This was a great lesson for your kids too...good that you gave this a rethought!
ReplyDeleteAditi, I guess two points for me for trying to teach them not to judge others on first appearances. People are so complex you really just can't. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteIts funny at first, but when we think about the why's and the what's , it does make one feel grateful for what one has.
ReplyDeleteBhavya, it certainly does. Thank you so much for stopping in and for your sweet words! ♥
DeleteYou're absolutely right. We don't know what's going on with anyone. Ditto what Bhavya said.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy Thursday!
Dana, it is so nice to see you! I am so pleased you enjoyed my post. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteAgree with you. We really must not judge anybody till we have walked a mile in their shoes or lived a day of their lives. We may never know what their real story is!! And true, such incidents makes you realize of the so many things to be grateful of in our own lives!
ReplyDeleteShilpa, I try not to judge people. I guess I think too much! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteInteresting! You just never know, do you?
ReplyDeleteLaurel, you sure don't! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteYour post made me laugh and then it made me think - yep we don't know until we walk in their shoes. Nice one Kathy.
ReplyDeleteSuzy, that was how I reacted to the situation. First I laughed myself silly and then I really wondered why he wasn't home sleeping instead of at the library. Guess it is the way my mind works. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteI don't blame you one bit for laughing. But then you made me feel bad for laughing along with you! Definitely two sides to every story.
ReplyDeleteKate, oh I am sorry. It was funnier than hell but then by the time I got home...well I thought about it and wrote about it and developed a conscience. LOL Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteYes, a little funny but true!! We often think of things like this in this way.....dismiss it and then finally realize that there's more to think about. We begin to empathize. A true expression of how human beings react!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I am so pleased you enjoyed this. I tend to think too much. This was really hilarious to see, until I really thought about it. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteYou turned a funny scene into a sad one! It's so true that what we see doesn't begin to fill in the backstory of what's really going on. A grown man napping at a computer is humorous, but there's nothing funny about being homeless.
ReplyDeletejannatwrites, very true! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
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