Tuesday, December 13, 2016

There Aren't Enough Shopping Carts

As I sit here at my desk at work on a daily basis I have a view to the outside world through my window. I’ve sat here since 2008 and just the changes to my little section of the world have been significant. But nothing has changed more than the people that walk by.

We are not too far from a high school, so I see lots of students walking to and from school. Sometimes a cross country running team will run by, I see school buses. We’re in a business district so I see people walking to and from work or walking by to pick up something from the local restaurants for lunch.

Across the street there are apartments and homes and a retirement village, so I see people of all ages out walking their dogs or doing yard work, just carrying on with their normal day to day routine.

In the past couple of years one thing that I have noticed more and more of, that I never saw before, are homeless people with shopping carts filled with all their worldly treasures and items like cans and bottles that they can recycle for a little bit of money here and there. Sometimes alone, sometimes with a mate, very often with a dog.


Today as I looked across the street I saw a tall, thin, young man walking slowly, pushing a shopping cart busting at the seams with “stuff”.  My mind instantly went to the thought that I constantly have about how lucky I am to have my job, my family, my family’s support, a roof over my head and the heads of my children and how that could just as easily be me.

It could be me. Like everyone else I’m just a few paychecks away from poverty. What would I do if I lost my job and I used up my savings? Would I have to be homeless? Would I have to get a shopping cart and what would be most important to me to fill my shopping cart with? 

That led me to think about everyone else and the Apocalypse and how that poor man is already living the Apocalypse. What will we do when we all have to start living like that? Where will we each find a shopping cart? There’s a huge Vons Grocery Store right across the street and around the corner, but there are barely enough shopping carts for all of us employed in this building alone. If we all took one where would the other people get theirs?


Now my mind is really racing. People…there are not enough shopping carts in the world! If things don’t get better and we are all out on the street…there aren’t enough shopping carts, what will we do?


I’m normally a positive thinking person, but every once in a while things like this hit me hard and scare the crap out of me. Don’t they scare you? How sad that I have come to this point in my life where I am actually concerned that I will have a shopping cart when and if I am homeless.

17 comments:

  1. Well, when the time comes and we can't find a shopping cart, we'll just have to haul our stuff in a stroller. I've seen homeless people hauling all their possesions in baby strollers. It is a sad situation and we don't know their story, but some are doing drugs, others are mentally ill and they ran away from home, and some don't have someone to take care of them. We are blessed to have our jobs, our family, and a roof over our heads. This is something to be thankful for during the holidays and always.

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    1. I guess at some point it won't matter, a cart, a stroller a box with a string, as human beings we will find some way to still have our treasures and transport them. The pioneers did it in covered wagons pulled by horses. We will just have to get creative. I just hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime or yours or your children...or well...EVER! Thanks for commenting!

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  2. OMG! I think it is true... We have finally switched personalities! I was the family worrier, but slowly but surely you have begun to assume that role. I agree it is sad that our society is slowly deteriorating. I know there has always been poverty and homelessness but it just seems to be 1000% more prevalent now. I fear for our children and grandchildren. But rest assured I am sure our ancestor's felt and thought the same for us. Humanity will survive... Hopefully!

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    1. I'm sure you are right. Hey! I have my moments of worrying, they just don't happen that often. It's like when you see a photo or an art piece that resonates with you, I just happened to look out the window and see that man with his shopping cart and wondered where they get the carts and why they all have one and it just escalated from there! Thanks for commenting!

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  3. You're bringing me down... let's hope and pray we don't have to go out and fight for that shopping cart!

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    1. Hi Becca! Thanks for commenting! Yeah, well if we have to fight for the last cart I prefer you and the little princess have it ok. :)

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  4. So true, Alicia. That could just as easily be one of us.

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    1. We're all one paycheck away from poverty. Scary thought.

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    2. It sure is. When I got seriously ill in 2011, I thought, Well this is it. I'm gonna lose my job. But I was lucky. My boss was patient and generous.

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    3. I'm sure it must have had something to do with the fact that you were a good employee as well. Glad you were able to bounce back!

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  5. When we lived in the San Diego area and we would drive downtown, it was so heartbreaking to see all the homeless people there; making their own tent cities on major blocks downtown, pushing their shopping carts, etc. I wanted to help them all but realized I could not. Life on the street is hard. I've never experienced it but briefly my son's then girlfriend did (long story). It isn't pretty and certainly not what one would expect. I'm not good at it, but I do try to thank God daily that I have a roof over my head and adequate food to eat. There was a time in my life I was living somewhere I absolutely despised (another long story) but was reminded at least it was a roof over my head. If I had the money, I would do more to help the homeless. It is just such a sad situation.

    betty

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    1. I recently went for a day trip to downtown Los Angeles to visit Olvera Street. My sister and I had been there about 5 years previous and we were shocked to see so many tent cities all along the freeway and around the area in down town. It's so sad and it put a damper definitely on our trip. I don't know how they do it and that is why I am so scared to end up homeless. I am freezing right now as I write this and I'm in a warm and cozy office with my little heater on under my desk, wearing warm and cozy clothing and boots...and it's drizzling outside and I wonder where they all go to? Breaks my heart.

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  6. All we have to worry about is Health. As long as one is on his feet and mentally OK - one will find a way to survive without carrying a shopping cart with empty bottles. Besides, children are some kind of insurance; If they got a proper education ,they won't let their parents fall.

    Very well written post. You 're made of the stuff of a novel writer.

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    1. DUTA I agree with you, our children and family will help us. I know many homeless people have been let down by their family for many reasons, many reason their own fault, but it still breaks your heart to see them.

      Thank you for that wonderful compliment...wow! I'm going to be puffing out my chest all day today just thinking of your kinds words! :)

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  7. I guess I had never thought of this before - about there not being enough shopping carts...interesting.

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    1. Actually the shopping cart is more a metaphor for the fact that we are all one paycheck away from disaster. I mean I own my house so I don't think I will end up homeless, but it's scary to think that there but for the Grace of God or my own good fortune, depending on your beliefs...go I. Thanks for stopping by!

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