Homeless In Dallas

As I stopped at the gas station, I saw how much harder it is to be homeless in a state where the cold gets to your bones and there is no shelter that is warm or dry. I usually don't smoke, but tonight I stopped to buy some cigarettes. I was approached by a woman for spare change. I usually waved them off because I see them as able bodies that can do what I do for myself.  I don't know if it was the combination of the rain and the cold or the fact that this person was clearly ill and had a bad cold. I felt sorry they were out there asking for some change, they said it was because they were hungry. I doubted it was for that. regardless, I gave them a big part of my cigarettes pack and whatever change I had. They asked if I could spare a dollar. I usually say no, but tonight I knew I had a few dollars swimming around in my purse. I looked through my purse and I pulled out a $5 Dollar bill. I handed over to her and that merited me a hug. I don't know what she will be using that for. Whether it be for food or booze. Either way, I remember not too long ago being close to her situation and it reminded me that sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down. Sometimes we try really hard to make our way through this world and things just don't go the way we want them to. So for that, I am thankful that I am on other side and able to spare those 5 bucks.