pixiebelle

I made it to Chicago! As always, it's proven to be an adventure already and I just got in town.

How so? Well I made a friend the moment I stepped off the train. A homeless man named Ron. I was lost and while doing my best to not appear lost, he caught on. He kept talking to me, telling me he knew where the Hard Rock Hotel is....

My first thought is, "Heck no! I'm a girl, he's a stranger... He's going to kill me or rob me or something!" though he seemed nice, I know that even serial killers are charming.

I followed a bit, my nice girl instinct coming in to play. However, it was daylight, I was surrounded by people and I never got close to him.

So don't lecture me here :)

He gave me a B.S story about a daughter who had the same name I did. I can tell a B.S story when I hear one. It was meant to tug on my heart strings, but anytime he'd ask me something, he'd have a coincidence that connected us. Once I realized that he led people places for money, I calmed down. I can give the guy some cash... Because I'm a bleeding heart like that. I work in homeless housing and the fact that he's homeless doesn't scare me, it was the male part of the equation. Just because I'm a woman and all that jazz....

But he led me to the hotel, and as promised to the Universe, if I came out alive, I'd give the guy what I had on me: $20.

Before you lecture me on how he will buy booze or drugs... I know he might. But he did lead me 6 blocks to safety and it's cheaper than a cab. I didn't have anything smaller and I wasn't going to not give him anything. He may have been lying about wanting to take his daughter to the zoo (he may have a daughter, I just think he was lying about her name). He may have been telling the truth.

I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. He helped me to safety, he was a nice tour guide giving me info on shows playing and pointing out important buildings. I have a little cushion of money where I can donate now and again and he helped me out. Plain and simple.

And I had made a promise to the Universe :P

But yes, I'm a bleeding heart who gives money (usually not $20) to homeless people. Sure, maybe they'll buy booze or drugs, but I'm out $2-3 most of the time. If even one of those people really buy themselves some food or take their daughter to the zoo, I did something good. If not? I'm out $2-3 that I can part with easily.

In this case, he just got $20. Boy was he grateful. I even got a hug.

I wish we didn't have to live in a world of fear. I had no reason to fear this man except that he was a man and I was a woman in a strange city. It worked out in the end.

Sadly, that's not always the case and don't worry, I'll try not to do it again. Because you just don't know. But for now, I am still thankful that he helped me get to my hotel and that it all worked out.

The kindness of people amaze me.

He very well could have taken my fancy smartphone from my hands or my purse from my shoulder. He didn't. He was honest and truthful and helpful. It was well worth $20 to see kindness like that of anything else.

I just finished The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo on the plane and it has me in a happy, deep place today. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

Kevin isn't at the hotel yet, he's here for work and still at the convention center. But soon our adventure will begin!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! My birthday is actually Monday, so no one missed it (a few said "happy belated birthday").

Time to sit back with my next book and relax before the fun begins :)

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.