ROBERT AND MOST COLOURFUL FRIEND

Robert and Russell AKARoxanneAKARocky

After many attempts to capture "Rocky" on camera, today was day it all fell into place and could do a post about another of the unusual characters known to MOI.

"Rocky" thinks of self as transgender, a woman trapped in a man's body.  While the dress on this day was toned down, usually "Rocky" shows up at the bus stop bench dressed in a colourful MUMU or an strapless black evening gown.  Can you imagine the figure cut by "Rocky"?  The whole package plus pushing a trolley loaded with extra gowns and sleeping gear.

"Rocky" is born and raised in Hawaii.  At 34, Rocky has never known a time when he was not homosexual and he says that his manner of dress caused much trouble with his family.

Truth be told, when the old geezer first met "Rocky" he did not meet the new person with undiluted pleasure.  I do not do 'drag queen' well.  It offends me.  Right, so that is mean to say but it is the truth.

Over time, sitting with James on the bench, more and more of "Rocky's" story came out and little by little, my attitude softened toward.

Along with being 'transgender', "Rocky" suffers from a mental illness AND does drugs AND is a compulsive over-eater.  With no address, Rocky finds a clear spot in the car park at St. Augustine's and tries to sleep there.

"Rocky" is trying to mend his ways.  Of late, "Rocky" has entered a drug programme and he told me today that it has been 5 weeks since he smoked "ICE".  "Rocky" says that he is trying to get his eating under control but I rather doubt that.  "Rocky" loves his groceries and continues to eat more that needed.

Life is mean for "Rocky" but you would never know it to listen to "Rocky".  will long remember the ringing sound of the laughter that flows out of him.  Even when he is having a hard day, he finds something to get a huge belly laugh about.

The shocker is that I find myself liking and caring about "Rocky".  Right, he is not full quid and he lives in a fantasy world.  Truth be told, have never seen "Rocky" be mean to anyone and many is the time seen him share what little he has with other homeless people.  I know that "Rocky's" dream of being the first transgender president of the United States is never going to happen but if it pleases "Rocky" to dream such Hugh dreams, what is the harm.

In a perfect world there would be a special place for folks like "Rocky".  Sadly, it is not a perfect world and no one seems to care that life is mean for folks who do not fit in.