A few months back I posted links to the San Francisco Chronicle’s series on homelessness. This morning somebody posted a rambling-but-moving reply to that post in the comments area.
Excerpts:
I had been searching for my old very good friend for almost 30 years. ….
In my mind I could picture my friend married with children and maybe having a nice home somewhere but instead I was in for the heartache of a lifetime.
My friend was living as a homeless woman in the streets of San Francisco. ….
It all could happen to anyone. I never in my wildest dreams ever imagined my friend a homeless junkie pushing a cart, holding a sign asking for money, having hiv, and everything else that goes with this “Homeless Disease.” I call it that because I see it like that -a disease. …
One thing before I go – my friend who is out there in San Francisco was on her way to the olympics in gymnastics, also a great cheerleader, very pretty, mascot of her schools cheerleading team, homecoming queen, and much more. Homelessness doesn’t discriminate!