So I guess i haven't thought alot about this, but its almost been a whole year since my return to Seattle after being left in Idaho my by EX. Doesn't feel like it, but when i sit and think about all that has happened to me since my return. I've been robbed, homeless, worked and quit 1 job, moved twice, and that was all in 9 months, crazy huh?
I ran into an old street friend yesterday while out shopping for a new phone. His name is Little John, and I meet him when i was homeless and working the corner of 1st and Pike, giving tourist info and flying signs with the dog. Because i treated it as my job, i was always there, everyday, so i got to know all the many colorful people that live and hustle that area. John was an alcoholic, crack smoker and heroin addict, boosting from stores and general no good. But i never judged anyone, helping out as i could. The homeless helping the homeless cause nobody else would. Before i left Seattle last summer for Boise Idaho, i "loaned" him $20, joking that i know "owned" his soul, which he agreed.
John is now just a functional alcoholic. To you, that may not sound like much of an improvement, but to an addict, on the streets, it is. While on the streets, i gave him the information and told him for a month, everyday, to go get on the state's GA-U program, file for SSDI and move to GA-X, then use the state's insurance to get onto the methadone wait list NOW, cause it takes 4-6 months to get in. He now admits it was the best thing he ever did. As we talked yesterday, he was so excited to see how well i was, to see the boy cause EVERYONE loves boodah james. Hasn't touched dope or crack since he got into the methadone program, cause he really wanted to get clean. We had talks about all the money we wasted, about how multiple addictions are worse, trying to come up with money for beer and dope just to function sucks. John's starting his detox soon, and while he still hustles for beer money, the bike cops rode right past without a second look.
I still see other from then, people that don't remember me, or haven't changed at all since then. I watch them from the bus stop downtown, doing the same hustle, the same loops around and around
