unheard voices
DON
When I'm interviewing Quest, I keep noticing in my peripheral a man in a wheelchair cleaning up the street with a broom. I grow enthused and ask Quest if he knows him. He tells me the fellow had been of great help to him during his brief stay at the Mission. Shortly after our conversation, I veer around the corner to flag down this mysterious man in a wheelchair.
"Idle hands is the devil's workshop," he says upon introducing himself. His name is Don, and he volunteers at the Mission everyday.
Don is a Peacetime veteran on honorable discharge. Though he has home now, he's been homeless before. He is hesitant on labeling the experience as a struggle, exclaiming that you have to be optimistic with the things that happen in life. He became homeless shortly after he was arrested for a misunderstood fight between him and two other men. During his time in jail — which only lasted about eight months — the state took and sold 30 years of his property, two cars, his motorcycle and his two dogs. Just when I think his story couldn't become anymore tragic, it did. He tells me this all took place last year.
I think to myself, how could somebody be so level-headed and optimistic after experiencing something that devastating? Don is a superhero in my eyes, immune to setbacks and tragedies. About halfway into our conversation, my opinion changes. Here's what Don says about the public's perceptions on the homeless community:
"There’s too many people that wanna point fingers. Some wanna say they’re better than somebody else; and again, if you’re supposed to love your brother like you love yourself, they shouldn’t be judging anybody because they never know, something can happen in their life and it’s gonna fly back and slap them in the face and they’re gonna say, “Oh why did this happen to me?” No. It happens unfortunately to millions and millions of people. "
In that moment I realize he is a realistic man who holds a great deal of altruism. We can all learn something from Don. I know I did.
"You can't live in fear. Life happens."