A Lady living on a Bus Bench in Malibu

She’s a homeless lady (living) on a bus park bench. I had passed her dozens of times. I always noticed that she was sitting (living) in the hot sun. There wasn’t shade anywhere to be found on that corner of Kanan and PCH. I drove by her today. She was reading a book….and I saw something that punctuated (and gave meaning) to my day. I saw a tent cover that was now over her living space. Oh, it’s surely a living space. It has a pillow, books, etc.. Well, I knew one thing for sure and that this tent did not just fall from the sky. Someone (thoughtful) had purchased this tent for her….and placed it securely (with sand bags) in a spot that would insure that she would not be exposed to the harsh sun. Who does that? Who did that? No, really! I took this photo on my way to the valley knowing that the inquiry had just begun.

On my way home I stopped by her spot to ask: “Who brought you this tent”. I yelled from my car as I stopped in front of her bench.

"I can't hear you", she said, as I noticed that the loud sounds of the cars and motorcylces on this active intersection had rendered our potential conversation impossible. I said, "I'll park my car". She said, "O.K.” I didn’t know how this lady was going to accept my query. She was homeless and I had no reason to assume that she was going to be friendly with my questioning. What a surprise I was to receive. I stood in front of her, barefoot, while she displayed all levels of articulation and intelligence. She was fully sober and keen. She answered my questions as if she was expecting me. She had opinions and insight about almost everything.

She said that a man and a woman accompanied by a younger man had brought this tent for her…..she didn’t know the names. Wow! What a deed!. (I) didn’t have the thoughtfulness to make this happen. It didn’t “dawn” on me that there was a problem to be solved, a form of human suffering that could be remedied. Thankfully, someone else had the inspiration and took action. Knowing that another person had made the effort to give this woman shade was totally uplifting for me; it was the centerpoint of my day. I spoke of it to my wife and daughter and even to my son, living in NYC. It was a “drop the mic” moment. It acted as inspiration and celebration. It was the reason I had a 45 minute conversation with this woman who seemed flattered and energized that I had stopped to notice the humanity by the side of the road. She was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn. She had many stories of New England, New Hampshire....many stories and insights.

I don’t know what happened. She said she was an invalid. She mentioned her cousin, an accountant, in town. I’m sure she has family somewhere. "It is what is" (apparently) but someone did something for her that I would define as heroic.

In the end…after the Bentley’s have been purchased and the vacations in Bali have been realized….it comes down to a lady living on a bus bench needing a little humanity. No one else thought to make her life less uncomfortable. A man and a woman (perhaps a married couple and their son) had done something we all need much more of….thoughtfulness, compassion and humanity…..

This will save us...nothing less than this will save us.

food for thought...,