One time when I was taking some classes at Portland State, I went to the local McDonald's to have lunch. This old lady who was missing some teeth asked me for my spare change. I looked away and walked into the restaurant. Later, I stopped to think. This elderly lady was obviously not doing well at all. Now, I also dislike pan handling but I've felt guilty about not buying that old lady some lunch for the last 30 years or so. I used to get annoyed when I'd come off Hwy 217 to get onto the Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy to head out to my home in Aloha and I'd see panhandlers right there on the SW corner. If I knew they really needed the money, I'm sure I'd give them something but since I hate anyone taking advantage people and I don't know if they are legitimate or not, I look the other way when they are around. I've never chewed one out because they might be mentally handicapped and I'll be damned if I'm going to give a handicapped person a hard time. They've got problems enough.
Lanny, clear your conscience! I know that gal her name is Darlene with no front teeth, I ran into her in the smokies mtn's a few years back and she was collecting toll to cross the creek. She told me if I didn't pay up she'd shoot the air out of my tires and spit in my eye, (only have one) and beat me with her hooters! needless to say I obliged and paid her the toll.
This was a different lady. She was older than me and is almost certainly dead by now. She had gray hair and wasn't missing that many teeth. Her face was also wrinkled. I make it a point to not give in to pan handlers but I should have given her a hot meal.
Not clear if you mean the subject of the original post, the original poster, this thread, the bumping of this thread, S2 in general, or life itself. barfo
