Chicago Sleepout

friday night i had the privilege of taking part in something called the Chicago Sleepout. It was started in 2005 and its purpose is to raise awareness and funds for the problem regarding homelessness...specifically youth homelessness. It started on Friday at about 2pm and included many acitivites such as: petition signing, guest speakers, free dinner, dumpster diving for cardboard, collecting warm donations, and talking with the homelesss who came to the event. i missed the earlier stuff as i had classes on friday BUT a friend drew and i went down at around 7:00pm. i had the opportunity to meet some great homeless folk from the city. we had a prayer service in this huge, amazingly beautiful methodist church at around 9ish, and then, we were going to spend the night sleeping on the street with our homeless brothers and sisters.

UNfortunately, there was a problem with getting a permit for Daley Center where we would have slept, past 11pm. (some concert caused the city to pass a new ordinance). So we tried to set up next to the methodist church, but the propertyt next door said we were too close. funny how public property isn't always public. we had to keep packing up our stuff...what a great reality of a homeless person's life.

so here is what we did instead...we spent the night riding the el. the group i was in took the blue line which runs for about 2 hrs nonstop before having to get off and transfer back on. we rode it probably for 1.5 hrs straight at most....we did a lot of getting on and off. all night i probably slept about 30 min. the experience was both humbling and eye opening. the thing is...sometimes while i was riding the el, i was so cold and tired but couldn't sleep...and then, we'd get off and have to wait outside in the cold for the next train to come...and all i could do was sway back and forth. i mean, we could talk to friends and such, but eventually i kinda stopped talking. it seemed like it shouldn't be fun and it wasn't always comfortable...and i kept thinking, man, i just wanna go home...but then i put myself in the position of someone homeless and realized this could be their life...they don't have somewhere to go "home." this guy lenny who was with us was homeless for a month and did exactly what we were doing every night. he told us that after riding it for just one night again with us, he has no idea how he did it for a whole month. the most humbling part was sitting on the el next to a man who was drooling and smelled very strong. i told myself i couldn't move away from him because i was sposed to be experiencing his life and so i stayed. then this other man came and sat down practically on top of me...but actually next to me. and i was squashed. and the whole trip, the man with the "perfume" had his head down and it was rubbing up against my coat side...and i was so uncomfortable...but stayed.

overall it was an experience. i will do it again next year if possible. it was neat to see people come out and care for people. i have some new friends now...homeless and not and i will never forget the sleepout ya know. we ended at about 7am sat morning....i got home near 8am...slept for two hrs and then like a zombie went to work from 1:30-8:00.

and now for a story...even though this is SO long already. two new friends i made are Gail and Tommy. Gail has been homeless for about 3 years and Tommy I am not sure. they are a cute couple...those two. and they both were so positive and friendly and funny too. anyway, while i was walking and talking with them...i asked : "do u guys get ur eight affectionate touches a day? because they say u need to have at least 8 to fulfill our affection requirements." Gail joked, "i try to get six out of Tommy everyday!" then Tommy said, " Shannon. do u really believe that?" and i replied, "Yea. i mean, some days, i spend all day alone it seems, walking around doing whatever, and if i haven't had any hugs or affection, i start to feel lonely and like i wish i just had someone to walk with me or something." gail was like, "yea, it's nice to just have a friend to talk to." then i said in my funny positive shannon talk, "SO, if u guys need any hugs, i've got some!" later on, as we were setting up our sleeping bags before we found out we couldn't stay next to the church, Tommy came up to me and said, "shannon? where are u sleeping?" i replied, "i dunno, probably somewhere near u." then he said, (and i will never forget it and almost cried at his amazing heart)..."Shannon...maybe u can sleep near Gail so u won't have to be alone."

they left that night as we couldn't all have a sleepover together...and they wanted to try and find like an alley or something, but on our way out, they were walking down the street back to meet everyone, it was like an answer to prayer. i was afraid i wouldn't see them in the morning and we had said we would. They were both smiling as usual and remembered our names. and the best part....both Tommy and Gail gave ME a hug as we said our hellos and goodbyes. they are beautiful people and i look forward to the next time i get to see them. y do some people forget that we are ALL human...

here is a link to check out if u want more info: www.tothestreets.org

And Now for Another Story About One Time...

Alright sooo...if my name is shannon, and i am pretty sure it is, i tend to find myself in weird situations, with weird ppl, having weird freaky things happen to me. and yesterday my friends, was a day of a freak accident. u see, before i was about to go to anatomy lab, i stubbed my left pinky toe,(known in anatomy as my left 5th metatarsal), on a wooden doorframe in our apartment. the thing is...normally, u would think a forceful stubbing of a toe on a doorframe could lead to oh a sprain or break even...but NO...instead, a piece of flesh ripped up on my toe. and not just a small piece...a pretty big deep piece. as is a typical shannon reaction...i said a few choice words, looked at my toe...thought i knocked up my toenail...realized it was ACTUALLY my skin which was knocked up...and stared at it. eventually it started to bleed and i began to laugh and pace and feel nervous...not knowing how bad this injury actually was. one of my roomates was home but she was sleeping and what could she really have done? i dunno. the health office at school was yet to be open, so i called my other roomate alanna and she said i should call our friend trevor because, "he knows what to do in emergencies." he came over with a first aid kit and alanna came back too, as she wasn't feeling very well, and we did a makeshift clean and wrap job. then i went to class. after class, i went to the nurses office to ask if i could get it cleaned out properly. the nurse ,named jaunita, took off the bandage and said, "ooooh baby girl!" she then preceeded to inform me that i would need some stitches. stitches! haha. soo....i had to get myself to the doctor. and i did. and the doctor who stitched me up was really fun and funny and a med student was there observing and she was cool too. basically it was like party in that patient room. but i will have u know...getting the numbing shots...about 4...in the base of my pinky toe was SO painful...while i was enduring the pain....i said, "just cut the whole toe off." haha. anyway, so i can't run for a while....or wear normal close toed shoes...so i wear one of alanna's flip flops. today it has been snowing and raining...so my foot has been fairly numb. welcome to my freak world...sometimes it seems ridiculous and twilight zone-ish. but nevertheless....HILARIOUS. i know these pictures aren't very clear but they should give u an idea. it actually looks pretty gross up close.

One Time

a couple weeks ago havs and i had a dinner date at this delightful indian buffet restaurant. it is a little hole in the wall of a place but man oh man is the food DELICIOUS. about $9 and all u can eat? i'll take it. u may notice my skin has turned a new shade of pale since living here. thank goodness for moisturizer. if u are wondering what i am about to eat...it is amazing lentil soup stuff.

Roomies

These are my lovely roomates Alanna and Havalyn....in that order. Alanna is from New York and Havs is from Wisconsin. We have some good times...especially at bedtime. They have been a blessing in my life this semester. You would like them.

Ohhhh Niagara

During Spring Break in March I got to go to Niagara Falls and see THAT! Pretty darn gorgeous huh? And now for a funny piece of history: The first woman to go over this fall and survive was like a 60 yr old teacher . She went in a wooden barrel with her cat. The crazy lady took her cat! And they both survived. The things we do...P.S. this photo is from the Canadian side.

Ronald

(hey look glen...finally)

today i met a man named ronald michael. he is homeless. he came into the bakery i work at in chicago this evening, ordered a coffee, and asked if we had any cinnamon rolls on "credit." i said no but i let him have some free cookie samples. i was trying to be intentional ya know? acknowledge him as a human rather than "that homeless man." his being present caused an uproar though because he didn't smell very pleasant and his "perfume" was causing the entire bakery cafe to hold his odor. one of the managers asked him to leave. where should the line be drawn ya know? he is a human too and he was a paying customer but he comes in a lot i was informed, and it's bad for business...but...i'm glad i at least asked his name.

and the awkward award goes to me for this week. the winning line is:

"maybe we'll see each other in a social situation some time..."

no joke. i said that to someone. distract me while i'm talking and who knows what u'll get.