(Editor's note: Wal Mart has really cute separates for babies/kids, and they are cheap. Don't judge me. Everyone compliments me on Charlotte's outfits and they are usually under $10. I'm a winner.)
On my way into the parking lot, I saw a homeless man holding up a sign, but I didn't really get a chance to read it. It's not unusual to see a homeless person stationed on a few of the corners around here, so it wasn't very surprising. And I knew I had just found Day 2 goal.
I got the kids' clothes and some other things we needed very quickly, hoping that I would get back before he was gone. A lot of times they will wander away if they aren't getting any help, or more often the police chase them away.
I went into the grocery section and added warm fried chicken, bagel chips, a deli sandwich, some breakfast bars and some juice and water to my cart and got in line.
The line took FOR EV ER. The cashier didn't know how to ring anything up. She was manually typing in almost every item after she couldn't get anything to scan. Then, I realized I had forgotten my debit card in my car, and since the lines were moving like molasses I decided to just write a check. Of course, she didn't know how to do that correctly on the first try and.....it was just a long process from the back of the line to the exit door.
Fortunately, suspect was still there. And I couldn't get to him. He was on the wrong side of the road barrier, so I had to drive 3 blocks out of the way to wait for the next legal U-turn. Since it was a busy intersection, I figured I could park my car in the shopping center across from where he was at, and then walk the groceries over to him.
Park my car. Realize that the lot I am in does not connect to the other one, which has a wrought iron fence around it. Get back in the car. Make another U-turn in the other direction, and then take a side street as an attempt to get back toward him again. Now I'm on the wrong side of the street again, and the light is green so I cannot stop.
Drive the three blocks up again, U around again, and pray. Okay God, if you want me to bless this person today, make it happen.
It was the first time in my life I ever prayed for a red light during a California rush hour.
The light turned red and my car stopped dead in front of him. Turns out he wasn't a homeless man at all, but a guy probably around 18 years old with war paint on his face. He was traveling to Texas, and had run out of money so was looking for help to keep going.
At first I was a little disappointed it wasn't a more destitute fellow (note to self: get contact lens prescription checked!), but rather likely a spoiled rich kid who decided to do it on his own and not get help from a great family he probably has.
But then I really checked myself. I had written this note to go with the food, and the words didn't really seem to make sense to me at the time.
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They seemed geared toward someone younger than an old homeless man. Like someone who may be searching for value in life more than handouts.
Anyway, he took the food very excitedly and we had a rushed conversation about where he was headed until the light turned green.
And then I was so flustered and turned around from all those turns and the excitement of trying to get the bags of groceries to this kid, that I got completely lost trying to get to the kids' daycare.
Great. Day 2 - almost never saw my kids again. Sheesh.
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