This morning has slowed me down (Sunday mornings usually do). I had my finishers hat on. Four days to go, four days of paper writing, test taking, packing, and half-hearted goodbyes.
I rolled out of bed at 6:50 this morning and bundled up. Clothes laid out the night before got me out the door at 7:15. It was sunny then - it's raining now. A long T ride, a warm welcome in a stuffy basement, loading into the van (clothes, juice, clementines, table, cookies, A, and me), and off to Pine. Nobody wanted the striped leopard scarf in my basket (I wouldn't want it either) and we headed to McDonalds just a little earlier than usual.
McDonalds - the great Devil, right? If you look at my "other blogs" link you'll see I have a vegan blog. But every Sunday I nurse a McDonalds orange juice an pick the bread off of a $1 sausage egg and cheese sandwich (H is always happy to eat the "innards"). We roll into McDonalds at 9:15. Usually there are 8 - 10 people waiting for us. Jane and Larry know everyone. They give hugs, encouragement, and prayers along with hot coffee, cold juice and a bagful of sandwiches.
This little greasy haven has register operated restroom doors ("they'll buzz you in" is the catch-phrase of the morning to the inevitable newbie rattling the door handle). Trucks and MBTA busses pull up along the road and the drivers dash in for coffee, afraid of the cops that sneak up and ticket their rides as soon as the swinging door closes behind them. Pine St. Inn and a handful of detox center residents come here for coffee, sandwiches, and crack. There are dozens of drug busts a month here.
Jane and Larry buy breakfast for everyone in the place at 9:30am every Sunday morning. The cashiers welcome them and the dealers are more than happy for a warm breakfast sandwich.
I was greeted by name by everyone there today. They know me.
I am humbled. I come because somehow I belong. I like J - a scrawny little lady with techno-colored Cleopatra makeup - and she likes me. S gave me a big hug, standing on her tip-toes to get her arms around me...even M and J smiled when I walked past their table.
...I don't know what I'm getting at here. I'm going to flesh this out later. Study time!
