A Walk in Lincoln Park

My Toastmasters friend Jenn and I met today at Lincoln Park to walk around and have a little lunch.

In the restroom I saw grafitti that I agreed with for once:

Afterwards I went by The Kinney by chance. I took a look inside to inform my opinion of moving our Toastmasters meetings, and was completely impressed. It even has a Bus C stop right outside!

What Happened On Friday

Friday after work I was waiting for the bus home when a woman with an unfocussed air approached me.
She kept looking up at the sky then sideways at me then up at the sky, bobbing her head up and down while just standing there silently. I saw she was dressed too lightly for the weather, with an open blouse and obviously no bra ... I was concerned she was going to flash me by accident or otherwise ... and carrying an open sleeping bag.
It didn't look right.
"Got a cigarette?" she mumbled at last. The words were slurred.
"No," I said truthfully, and "I don't have any money" untruthfully. It looked like she was going to beg for money which I don't give to people on the street. I want to help, but not to waste.
She stood there, mumbling and looking up then sideways then up.
I asked, "Do you need help?" I did not know what help to offer but it was obvious something was not right. Surely someone would be along I could refer her to.
She mumbled something I did not understand.
"The Union Gospel Mission can help. It's that way," I pointed. They had done some good work in the past with some people I knew. This wasn't much to offer but it's all I could think of.
She said, "Got a match?".
"No" I replied. "Where do you live?" Maybe she stayed somewhere that would take care of her and what a relief that would be.
"I'm homeless".
She put the sleeping bag around her shoulder and disappeared into the crowd.
I wasn't going to follow her and more actively insist she accept help from whatever source I could google on my smartphone, but I don't think that I handled this situation well. I don't know how better to handle it.
What would you do?

Sword Fern cuddling a Pinkflower bush

I appreciate that the official name is probably something other than "Pinkflower" but what the heck, they don't come when you call their name anyway!
(Another in the "on the way to my bus stop" series)

A Rose

This rose in my side yard was a transplant over Christmas, gift of Carlos Espinoza thanks! Cut back to bare canes, it is now flourishing in new soil and already giving back such a great fragrance. That's a metaphor right there!

Pie!

Kiara Otero made tasty tasty pie thanks!! One of the benefits of living in an extended family is a variety of interests and skills!

Sweetpea on the way to my bus

"You will pet me" says Shadow

"You will pet me. You will pet me NOW."

Game of Thorns

Near my bus stop: House of Lancaster and House of York!

Community Emergency Hub exercise

Today I enjoyed volunteering at the 2019 Seattle Emergency Hubs Field Exercise.
Community Emergency Hubs are places where people gather after a disaster to help each other.
Seattle Emergency Hubs is a coalition of volunteers from Seattle neighborhoods having the shared goal of preparing for, responding to, and being resilient after a major disaster. Hubs serve as a central gathering place among neighbors in homes, apartments and condominiums
In these exercises, volunteers get experience out in the real weather and work hands on to perform the functions of a hub. If you would like to train to help your community respond in the event of a major disaster, this is the exercise for you.
I served as a “community actor”. I pulled short scripts from a bowl ("My block needs a crowbar to get garage door open", "My husband is trapped in our red Honda Civic under a downed power line, how does he get out?", "The pharmacy at Hollywood and Vine says its power is down so bring your medicine bottles if you want to fill a prescription") and went around seeking help. The workers processed my request, directed me to resources, and occasionally sent me over to the HAM radio operator.
This was fun and who knows? if we have an earthquake this could be very important. Learn more at http://seattleemergencyhubs.org/ and http://www.seattle.gov/emergency-management/prepare/prepare-your-neighborhood/community-emergency-hubs