Every time I sit down at my desk to write it is like an adventure. What is it that will present itself as subject or topic? This reminds me of what my Chinese English prof at MR-College said to me in 1996: “Write where the emotions are!”

This has proven to be good advise and when I start my daily entry I often ask myself: “What stirs me?”, when I fire up my trusty laptop for another Daily Entry. And this morning, two ‘things’ stir me. First is a chance street meet, see writings, and second is my Juliet visit. And … actually there is my dream from yesterday, but that can wait.

This reminds me of what my Chinese English prof at MR-College said to me in 1996: 'Write where the emotions are!'

On Wednesday I met with Juliet. She is still recovering from her fall of last Sunday and with bruises showing around the eyes and her nose. She is remarkable in the way she carries on and I found her very determined to finish the editing of that last remaining chapter of her story.

And we did finish the sixteen or so pages of that chapter 20 and now all the 25 chapters are done! Chapter titles and photos are next, but that will not be so time consuming. After our dinner and dishes I was home at 9-pm! But it feels good to have the editing behind us.

Yesterday morning I walked home returning from a coffee with paper at Savour. On the side walk in front of the little mall at the Mexican restaurant I noticed a dark woman walking very slowly, shuffling almost in apparent distress. I thought she wanted money, but refusing it she repeatedly mumbled ‘apartment, apartment’. “I have no apartment” I replied and walked on, not knowing what to make of this sidewalk encounter.

But, the memory of this meeting surfaced again this morning after forgetting is yesterday, while being busy with a peculiar dream. So, I am thinking this morning how little effective help I can give in such a situation. I thought that she might have been pregnant and close to giving birth. Could I have taken her in to my apartment that I do have close by? That would have been very disruptive of my life and may have caused me trouble too.

How little we are prepared to help in our society, unless it is through the ‘channels of assistance’, such as a hospital. Would the nearby Shumir centre have been of assistance, or the Sherriff King Home shelter in Inglewood? And why did I not even think of such possibilities! I felt uncomfortable with this sidewalk encounter, now that a few coins did not solve the problem.

We would need a Samaritan, a Good Samaritan I was thinking; ’A street Samaritan'may be.

So, as I was thinking along those lines this morning marvelling really at the inability to offer neighbourly help between citizens, for your sidewalk neighbour so to speak. Our sophisticated society has forgotten the ways of the village where such help is just around the corner in most situations. “How to deal with a person in distress on a neighbourhood street?” I asked myself. We would need a Samaritan, a Good Samaritan I was thinking. ’A street Samaritan’ maybe or a street front office where resources and assistance are available.

Then I recalled how my son John helped one week with serving lunch meals at the homeless shelter as part of a corporate volunteer activity in Calgary. Is a group of street informed volunteers or info points needed in our city in certain neighbourhoods? I don’t know, but may ask my more socially connected friend Jack.
<10:06am~