THE DREGS

       Five days will not cure jet lag; drinking doesn't help jet lag; and after partying late last night and sleeping little, all Miss Joy had to offer the shelter kitchen was the dregs. Oddly, that was exactly what the kitchen offered me…
       Doug met me with tons of hugs and welcome homes. That was dear! Then he introduced me to a new guy who hopes to assume a part-time position there and who is a wonderful worker. He also introduced me to another fellow who never did anything that I could see, other than get in my way and want to talk. Kinda hoping that fellow will find something else to do on Sundays.
       I have never seen the kitchen as dirty as it was this morning. All I could do was get a rag, some spray, and wipe things down, but the crumbs and old sticky dirt are still there in the cracks and crevices. Then Doug swept and mopped, and things looked better, but WHY was it like that?
       We had Doug's potato soup, chicken salad, fruit cocktail, and some leftover dinners from last night. There was more than enough because, as I implied, there were few at lunch, and they were a sad lot. Of the 20 we served, there was only one woman in each group, and the homeless one took a look at the food, turned up her nose and left. It's colder now… and yesterday's group was a herd, Doug said, so we expected large numbers today.
       Bad Ass is gone. He was set free early, due to bureaucratic bungling, and word has it that he was pushing drugs AT the shelter even before he left… so I imagine he'll be returning to his comfort zone before long… Little Chief leaves tomorrow, but another "Indian" is due in this week, and the staff's been warned to tread lightly.
       A new pre-release came waddling to the counter well after his group had eaten and gone. When I asked for his bed number, he said, "I'm a pre-release." So I told him he was quite late, and he said he knew… eyeing the food as if it might not suit him—all 500 pounds of him already sporting a pace maker and not yet 30.
       Cutie Gatekeeper has left for greener pastures, and Crusty Old Broad was keeping the gate. I hadn't seen her in many months. She, too, is a very good eater.
       Mr. Huggy waltzed in the other day, white as a sheet, and was sent post haste to hospital with another heart attack. He hasn't been bringing goodies, so that bin was nearly empty. I cleaned it and washed out the sticky goo in the bottom.
       Miss Lillian is expecting to return from her recent surgery. She still comes by from time to time, and this week Doug said 2 large stacks of styrofoam plates just disappeared. He continues to be amazed by these activities, but deep down they are no surprise.
       The little boy and girl who were there when I left are still there, sadly. They were not at lunch today, so I assume they had a happier place to be.
       Some of the homeless men are repeats from last winter. I must assume they've been "out and about" during summer and have come in for the winter. Two appear to take some pride in their appearance; the others are a motley crew. In fact, Little Chief was the only pre-release who showed well today; the others were dragging.
       Just as well. I was dragging too.