Coastal Voices Guest Opinion: Talk with homeless man recalled

Around 1988, while I was living in Los Angeles, a friend and I were fishing off the Malibu pier. It was a beautiful day in Southern California. A homeless man approached me and asked for money.

At this time, it was common to see the homeless in L.A., but you really didn’t see them here in Crescent City. I had always been curious about their story so I asked the guy, “Be truthful with me, are you just going to buy alcohol?” He said yes.

I told him I would walk over to the small store across the street and buy him a six-pack if he would talk with me about his life. He agreed. As we walked, he told me his name was Tom, and began his story.

He was from Florida. He told me that one day about five years ago, he had gotten tired of his life, the bills, the job, his family, and just walked away from it all. He had been a milk man for 20 years. He had owned a nice home, had a wife and two kids and a Corvette in the garage.

He said he received $600 a month from Social Security, but never touched it, saying that living on the street with money causes more problems and dangers than just living day to day. He told me he traveled to Florida in the winter and back to L.A. in the summer, staying in the heat and warmth all year round, walking and hitchhiking all the way.

He said when you live on the street you learn where all the places are to sleep, all across the country. If you find a blanket at these places you leave it for the next person.

We reached the store and bought a six-pack for him and a beer for me and we went back to the pier and sat and drank. He continued his story, saying you would be amazed at what foods restaurants toss out every day. He said that finding food is never a problem. He told me that anytime a homeless person comes up to you and asks for money it is always for booze, cigarettes or drugs, always!

He said that every homeless person he knew was homeless by choice, and he knew many. I liked Tom and enjoyed our conversation. I have always remembered what he told me.

I know that there are people out there that are homeless that did not choose to be, but they are very few. I don’t have much sympathy for most, because I realize they are there by choice. Why our local homeless don’t travel to the south for the warmer weather in the winter beats me. Maybe it’s because our town is so lenient with them.

I was in Eureka last Saturday and walked behind the Bay Shore Mall. A beautiful place. It’s unfortunate that places like that, like behind our Safeway, are very beautiful spots, but are the living places for these people. They have turned them into garbage dumps. It’s nice to go into a town that doesn’t have a homeless problem and see the difference. I don’t see a problem up in Brookings like we have here. There are so many that feel so sad for the homeless. I, too, have given money to them during a moment of compassion, but I don’t fool myself, I know where that money is going.

Maybe after reading this, those that feel so bad can rethink their misconceptions and focus their energy on a different cause. One that is truly wanted and needed, like the many responsible families that are out there that have lost jobs, family members and incomes that truly need help during this holiday season.

Mike Cuthbertson is a Gasquet resident.