Steve, aka "Meatball"
We pretty much great each other at the same time as I approached him, squatting and leaning against a tree in the evening sun, using a staff for support. "I'm always here, I arrive early to get a good spot". Injured in boot camp 20 years ago and given an honorable discharge for medical reasons, he struggles to survive. "$857 a month, that's what I get". He supplements his income by begging on the streets and still can't afford his meds. He isn't allowed to stay at the Soldiers Inn if he begs, it isn't allowed. He has trouble finding a shelter to stay in because you need to be sober; he's an alcoholic, it helps him deal with the pain of his degenerative arthritis. "What is your name I asked" ~ "Steve, but everyone calls me Meatball - I make the best meatballs you'll ever have" he says with pride. A woman walks by and he asks her for a cigarette, to me she says "I've known him for years, sweetest guy you'll ever know". Someone else (Bo Gai) stops and puts earplugs in his jar to drown out the noise so he can sleep - all have kind words for and of him. I listen to his story and it saddens me that all I can do is put a few dollars in his jar and wish him well and luck....
We pretty much great each other at the same time as I approached him, squatting and leaning against a tree in the evening sun, using a staff for support. "I'm always here, I arrive early to get a good spot". Injured in boot camp 20 years ago and given an honorable discharge for medical reasons, he struggles to survive. "$857 a month, that's what I get". He supplements his income by begging on the streets and still can't afford his meds. He isn't allowed to stay at the Soldiers Inn if he begs, it isn't allowed. He has trouble finding a shelter to stay in because you need to be sober; he's an alcoholic, it helps him deal with the pain of his degenerative arthritis. "What is your name I asked" ~ "Steve, but everyone calls me Meatball - I make the best meatballs you'll ever have" he says with pride. A woman walks by and he asks her for a cigarette, to me she says "I've known him for years, sweetest guy you'll ever know". Someone else (Bo Gai) stops and puts earplugs in his jar to drown out the noise so he can sleep - all have kind words for and of him. I listen to his story and it saddens me that all I can do is put a few dollars in his jar and wish him well and luck....
Steve, aka "Meatball"
We pretty much great each other at the same time as I approached him, squatting and leaning against a tree in the evening sun, using a staff for support. "I'm always here, I arrive early to get a good spot". Injured in boot camp 20 years ago and given an honorable discharge for medical reasons, he struggles to survive. "$857 a month, that's what I get". He supplements his income by begging on the streets and still can't afford his meds. He isn't allowed to stay at the Soldiers Inn if he begs, it isn't allowed. He has trouble finding a shelter to stay in because you need to be sober; he's an alcoholic, it helps him deal with the pain of his degenerative arthritis. "What is your name I asked" ~ "Steve, but everyone calls me Meatball - I make the best meatballs you'll ever have" he says with pride. A woman walks by and he asks her for a cigarette, to me she says "I've known him for years, sweetest guy you'll ever know". Someone else (Bo Gai) stops and puts earplugs in his jar to drown out the noise so he can sleep - all have kind words for and of him. I listen to his story and it saddens me that all I can do is put a few dollars in his jar and wish him well and luck....
We pretty much great each other at the same time as I approached him, squatting and leaning against a tree in the evening sun, using a staff for support. "I'm always here, I arrive early to get a good spot". Injured in boot camp 20 years ago and given an honorable discharge for medical reasons, he struggles to survive. "$857 a month, that's what I get". He supplements his income by begging on the streets and still can't afford his meds. He isn't allowed to stay at the Soldiers Inn if he begs, it isn't allowed. He has trouble finding a shelter to stay in because you need to be sober; he's an alcoholic, it helps him deal with the pain of his degenerative arthritis. "What is your name I asked" ~ "Steve, but everyone calls me Meatball - I make the best meatballs you'll ever have" he says with pride. A woman walks by and he asks her for a cigarette, to me she says "I've known him for years, sweetest guy you'll ever know". Someone else (Bo Gai) stops and puts earplugs in his jar to drown out the noise so he can sleep - all have kind words for and of him. I listen to his story and it saddens me that all I can do is put a few dollars in his jar and wish him well and luck....