Having journeyed far and wide, I have no doubt there is still dust to collect on shoes on journeys yet to come.
I hold two axioms on friendship to be quite right.
False friendship, like Ivy, decays and ruins the walls it embraces;
but true friendship gives new life and animation to the object it supports.
I think of self as a true friend, but am blessed to hold near friends who clearly
enrich me more.
They know who they be...
On the other hand, I must also fess up to another truth about friendship;
I have had, and may still, a thousand friends, as they are called, in life, who
are like one's partners in the waltz of this world...not much remembered when the
ball is over...
If I hurt anyone with my callow actions, I do so profoundly apologize, to the one's who missed
me not, that is the way of it.
The featured filmed clip is from Matt Glickstein - Songs For A Better World. It is well worth giving a look and just might make you think a little about homelessness.
Let's start this post with some simple truths. 'THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HAWAII'. There has not been for some time and housing is hard to come by for even the folks who work long and hard. 'THE POOR WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US'. It is just the way of it, there will always be folks who do not have cash, or so little of it, that life is an endless grind. 'THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HOMELESSNESS'. Charles Dickens told stories of the plight of the homeless in London in the 1800's, while getting some things changed, homelessness is not one of them. There are folks still living uncovered in London, as there are all over the world. Hawaii is not unique.
Regardless of the efforts of well meaning individuals toiling in non-profits, regardless the massive sums we give non-profits to deal with the homeless problem, there will always be members of the community living in horrid conditions.
Non-profits in Hawaii get tens of millions of dollars to deal with the homeless situation. There is some change, but the problem still remains. No doubt the programs that deal with women and children who are homeless, and programs dealing with families without shelter meet with better results. Truth be told, the plight of women and children living on the road is one that touches society deeply and great effort is made to protect this vulnerable segment of society. Single men facing horrid conditions is not treated with the same level of compassion.
The old geezer tossed and turned all night and sleep was most troubled. The events of the day were to blame. Not to mention some of the comments heard.
'YOU HAVE NOT WALKED THE WALK', was the comment most haunted by in sleep. It was hurled at MOI by one of the 'bright young things' connect with IHS.
There is ample proof to be had that this old geezer has indeed 'walked the walk'. Has for many more years than the gentleman who works at IHS. I may not be a 'paid professional' but have always tried to make a difference in any community a part of. This old geezer does not walk through life with blinkers on and has tried always, to stop to offer a hand to someone less fortunate. Daily, the horrid conditions of the homeless are observed in Waikiki and other parts of Honolulu.
I have always been curious, and that desire to learn more has made MOI stop and try to hear the stories of folks in trouble. One comes away with an entirely different attitude about homelessness, when you learn how or way, one is sleeping on a bench, or begging on the pavement.
Not all who are homeless want help. Quite a few of the homeless have found a way to live rent free and with responsibility. Many get a government check and food stamps and like the idea of not paying for anything. They like not taking responsibility for their anti-social behaviour. That is the way of it. They have the right to refuse help to change. So, one moves on.
It is a whole different story to get into the mentally ill, the alcoholics and the drug addicts. One could go on and on. Best to leave that for a different post.
The second thing heard yesterday, that made sleep hard to come, was one made by Colin Kippen.
In his remarks to the attendees of yesterday's conference, he made strong reference to bringing all members of the community together to deal with the homeless problem. He talked movingly about Aloha and Ohana.
In my darkest hour, it was members of the community, my 'family', that provided me with the courage to carry. NOT a non-profit.
When the courage was found to make the call to a long time friend, it was met with the disbelief that the old geezer would not believe that some cared about and wanted to. See how spot on Colin is in his belief that Aloha and Ohana of the community is valid and necessary to solve homelessness.
The worst 17 days of me life were spent at IHS. Mind, over the years stories had been heard of the horrid place that it is. At least the men's shelter. Street wise professional homeless seem to thrive there. They know how to work the system. IHS is not the place the weak, old or different go to. The battle to keep from being abused or robbed is too hard to fight. Truth be told, it was not the correct place for young men with AIDS to go either, in years past. Stories make the rounds among the homeless of a fate worse than death in going into the shelter.
COMMUNITY. Ordinary folks doing extraordinaire things to help fellow members of society who need a bit of help and compassion. Like my good friend. A simple man who tries to help homeless in Waikiki. Having jobs performed by homeless, to give a little cash to for food and toiletries ad clothes washing.
If you get the impression that no love is to be had for IHS, you would be correct. Pray, let me explain my reasons.
Whatever IHS was in the past, is a far cry from what it is today. Millions and millions of dollars pour into the coffers of IHS. So completely have they convinced the powers to be that they deserve as much as they ask for. Duplication of effort and bad mistakes seems to matter little and IHS has the 'data' to prove how brilliant they are. More's the pity that IHS does not admit that they are no more capable in ending homelessness than any other organization.
I came away from the homeless conference, more convinced than ever, that while some do wondrous things to help disadvantaged members of the community, there are non-profits who receive far more than they should. That turf defending is alive and well among the non-profits. That IHS, regardless of how well and slick they self promote, do not have all of the answers. That duplication of services offered is expensive and may well be best done by not placing all of the eggs in one basket.
Lastly, it would be so very wrong to allow the voice of a former priest of the Catholic Church, to drown out other voices. Regardless of his connection with IHS, he is but one member of the community and when last looked does not walk on water.
"You never know someone until you live with them", old adage that applies here.
Each and every new soul coming into the Somerset Apartments is a neighbour.
Or so, James, my mate who runs a troubled complex believes.
A neighbour
one is going to have to deal with and sort out if the promise of 'good' is not
realized. Risk? Is there any kind of life without risk?
Were it a perfect
world, brilliant folks near, would be beating down the door
to live here. They are not. Were it a perfect world, all who wanted flats here
would make buckets of cash and go to work every day. All do not. Perfection
would be to not see folks so down on luck. for whatever reason. Economy has
forced many to down-size living, making the flats at the Somerset Apartments the only
place to go. Folks on benefits, with limited incomes, have few options. The
Complex is not a perfect world, just a complex seeking to be more brilliant
and attract tenants who will add to the brilliance to come.
Having vetted
all, James is of opinion that new tenants will add to the mix nicely here. Mind, James is
not GOD and there is always the possibility that lies have been told to. There
may be problems. One has to have faith.
What James knows is this. All of
the folks moving have been told what is expected of. Rules have been explained
to in great detail. Flats have been made as good as possible, knowing that more
might have been done, but realizing that price limits the benefits one can add
to a unit. Nothing is broke, and every effort has been made to right all wrongs
in units. No lies have been told and no false promises made.
What passed
as acceptable in past, no longer flies here. Tenants are given every opportunity
to enjoy flats in comfort, knowing that repairs will be made if needed. Make do
with horrid is no longer an option. Folks who want more out of life than drugs
and cheating the system are the goal. The landlord does care and management
listens.
James will always remember being told by management of past; "You must
allow poor folks grace, give special treatment to, they have nothing and are
owed that." Rubbish. Am not scraping the bottom of the barrel anymore, am
determined to siphon off the Crème de la Crème of poor but honourable folks
looking to live in a safe, clean environment. Bravo James...
There will be many who will remember the story told of this old geezer playing Easter Bunny last year.
One of the most memorable moments of me life was to see the undiluted pleasure on Larry's face as he greeted the Easter Bunny.
Larry had been confined to a bed for over a year, his condition was terminal and he was playing out his days with grace and dignity.
There are other moments remembered and each and everyone of them that had to do with Larry Greathouse were all brilliant.
Larry was in great pain, but he never complained. He tried to buck up the spirits of his wife and all who entered his small world.
It was a privilege to know Larry Greathouse and to know that many this old geezer called a brilliant friend felt the same. Sheriff Steve Durfor came round to meet as did Supervisor Andy Vasquez. Both left gifts for and seemed touched by his 'grace and dignity'. I remember Larry's pleasure at receiving the special pin from the sheriff and the Christmas Tree from Andy.
I also remember Larry smoking 'medical cannibis' with pleasure. One of the few the old geezer thought it was so right to do. It helped with the massive pain and loss of appetite.
Larry Greathouse was my friend and I shall miss him much. I do not grieve for, as the old geezer passionately believes Larry suffers no more. He has gone to his spot in the tall grass, to sleep and sleep and sleep.
What follows is the post done when this old geezer went to visit Larry;
EASTER BUNNY HOPS FOR LARRY
Avid readers of this blog are 'au fait' with Larry. He be the the brilliant chap who lives in a flat with his lovely wife, Victoria.
Larry is on "Hospice" and can not get out and about as he might like to. That does not stop him from being keenly interested in the goings on that happen at the Linda Villa. What would have Easter been like if the Easter Bunny failed to hop over to visit?
Barbara had gone out and got special treats for the basket and it was hoped that Victoria would not 'spill the beans' and spoil the surprise visit planned. She did not.
Easter Bunny helpers knocked on flat door and told Larry that a special visitor was coming and asked if he was well enough to receive company.
When the door to flat opened and the Easter Bunny entered, Larry exploded with laughter. So loud was his laughter, it was heard at the office. With a smile as big as Texas, Larry grabbed his belly and just shook with merriment. For a moment, the Easter Bunny thought that Larry would roll off his bed.
Larry is one to not be greedy and assumed he was to take but one item from the offered basket. HA, little did he know that it was ALL for him. Gobsmacked he was...
"This is the best Easter of my life, and I had to wait until I was 60 to get it", told Larry to the Easter Bunny.
My dears, humble it makes the Easter Bunny to know that Larry continues to LIVE each and every day to the fullest. Truth be told, the Easter Bunny will long remember Larry and his Laugh. MOI should be so lucky to live so well.
