Strength from Compassion

     Sometimes alittle compassion and understanding makes the difference in life.On the way home tonight I was surprised to see Sweetness. She was sitting on a milk crate and with this intense heat was in a serious nod. Her insesant nose rubbing was a clear sign that see had done a bag or two of dope. Now, since I know her I know that alcohol is a curtainty. She either had beer or some cheap booze. She has dropped 30lbs. in less then four months. Her thin,gaunt ,frail look is part of the wasting away process of A.I.D.S. She has been infected for some 20 years. Her man, Roy Boy is on Rikers Island. He's doing a skid bid. He'll get released with good behavior in less then 2 months.Roy got infected by having unprotected sex with her despite being fully aware that she was H.I.V. positive. She told him that she was infected and his claim to loving her was that if she had it so would he. And the really wild thing is that thru thick and thin. Thru all kinds of fights, arrest, homelessness, you name it, they have stayed together.
     Way back when see was a fine young lady. Pot and a beer made due. Then with the influx of Crack, thats all she wrote. It quickly went to hoein' for $5. Condoms dont fit into the budget of a $5. hooker. The shear arrogance and stupidity of the johns pretty much gets them what they deserve. Very little sympathy and whatever disease he winds up with.One thing for sure AIDS info was widely displayed by the late 80's.
     I know that see is presently undomicile and in the past I've helped. Sometimes though you got to let things take there course. When I can I always make sure they get something to eat, food is something you don't deny anyone! And I can always come up with carefare, always. I do what I can, when I can.
     The inside joke between my friends and myself is that if their were a executive class arrangement in seating to Heaven, I'd be there. But because I see things for what they are, I'll settle for a few moments of feeling that I might have made a difference. You do feel good. And thats for me.
     Don't believe for a second that that shit, being good, will come back at you. Thats the biggest crock of shit that there is. You do it from the kindness of your heart. And thats it!
     When you live in an area for any length of time you get to know people, hard luck stories and all! Alittle compassion will bring you alot of love and respect. That is your strength!