don’t worry about it

yesterday morning i was almost to the stairs to go underground when i realized i forgot my wallet. i quickly turned around and jogged all the way down the block back to 41st avenue. i got about halfway back to my apartment where the man sits in the morning on the brick planter in front of his building.

“good morning,” he says every morning when i pass. “have a nice day.”

i always smile and return the sentiment.

i had already passed him on this day i forgot my wallet, and here i was passing him again.

“you forgot something?”

“i forgot my MTA card.”

“oh here, let me give you some cash.”

“oh, no, i can’t.”

“don’t worry about it,” he said pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket.

he handed me a $20. omg.

i thanked him after he wouldn’t let me refuse, told him i’d get him back tomorrow morning, and was quickly on my way back to the subway station.

this morning i left a little earlier and stopped at the ATM to pull out $20 to pay him back. as i approached his building i noticed he wasn’t sitting in his usual spot. i put the 2 10s the ATM dispensed back in my wallet and figured i’ll see him tomorrow, hoping he won’t think i took off with his $20.

halfway down the block almost to the subway stop, i’m somewhere in my head.

“hello, how are you today?” are the words that interrupt wherever i was.

i look up, there he is walking with a newspaper and a brown bag presumably with his breakfast inside of it.

“oh!” i pull out my wallet and start to unzip the compartment holding the cash.

“don’t worry about it, just go to work!” he tells me.

tomorrow morning i’ll try again.

long road ahead

Today I went down to Brooklyn to the New York Communities for Change office to do some data entry. People have been canvassing the buildings out in the Rockaways and other places hard hit by Sandy. They fill out forms indicating their needs. Most common items needed were batteries, flashlights, candles, food, water, and blankets. People still have no power out there! Several were in need of medication for diabetes. Several were asthmatic and concerned about mold in the once flooded basement. Nearly all of them were requesting aid from FEMA, some indicated they were already in the process of getting help but weren’t sure whether or not that process was moving along. All the forms were filled out on November 10. (The storm hit October 29.) Some people who still have cars that are working indicated they had no gas. Many were wanting assistance applying for food stamps. Some were homeowners, some renters, one landlord who lives on the second floor. The first floor was completely destroyed, that tenant moved on, somewhere. Many indicated that they are not able to make mortgage payments on their homes, or what’s left of them now.

For many life has gone on, but the road ahead is long for people living in Staten Island and along the coasts of NY and NJ.  (When I was finished I found myself in Chelsea, you’d never know that millions of people were devastated by a storm two weeks ago walking around there. It reminded me of the tourist overheard in midtown who said, “it’s not really that bad here, what’s all the fuss about?” a few days after the storm. Walking around above 37th street even then, you’d never know anything had happened at all.) The problem I see is that people’s needs weren’t being met before the storm, now their situations are more heartbreaking and leave me feeling a little hopeless.

On the bright side, my mentor’s organization Fortunate Blessings will be coming to the area in a couple weeks. The work he does providing trauma relief following natural disasters is far reaching and profound. Since I’ve known him he’s done work in Samoa, Haiti, and Japan; but he also was in Indonesia following the tsunami there several years ago. I’m looking forward to volunteering with his efforts here. So, please make a donation…even small amounts are helpful. The people here really need it.