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The homeless man and his guitar
A couple days ago while out shopping and walking back home approaching a crosswalk and busy intersection my wife and I heard "can you spare some change for breakfast" it was windy and noisy and I did not quite get it all, so I said "pardon me" and the smiling joyful homeless guitar man said "can you spare some change for breakfast" and I stopped and said to my wife do you have some change and she pulled out some toonie and loonie, a 2 dollar coin and 1 dollar coin and other small change and gave it all to him and he thanked us then as we continued walking my wife found some more and gave it all to the man

He was all bundled up, with a big smile that continued as we walked away with our knapsacks full of food and a 25 minute walk home and I thought of how fortunate we are to have a place to go.

but wait there is more!

This fellow use to have his guitar case OPEN and he would be playing and singing, but not now

Something happened in the last while perhaps a year or so.

The guitar playing man used to perform all over the main drag at various places up and down the stretch of Johnston Road in White Rock

He was a fixture of sorts for many years, at least 10 years or more, playing and entertaining those who would walk by or stop and listen and then reward this smiling fellow with some bills and coin

He no longer plays, his trusty guitar case still slung on his back yet no entertaining.

I saw him again on a walk to the doctors and he was in the same place on the busy main intersection asking for monies from passerby's as people went about their daily routines .

I think the fellow has been in the outdoors so much and perhaps has some kind of debilitating issue that is preventing him from being able to play.

There are many people along this stretch of road that ask for help or have a cardboard box or an outstretched hand seeking some help.

There is a place where we drop off canned goods and oatmeal bread in a place that has been established for those who need food , it is on a post and is a covered 2 foot by three foot container that those who need help go to to supplement their grocery needs.

We also contribute to school programs that have their students assist in helping the homeless or needy families or individuals

We give as we can to various places for fundraising for the less fortunate

I have seen such an increase in temporary dwellings pop up here and there in Surrey and Vancouver as I am sure many of my fellow musicians can vouch for as well with the increase in the unhoused circumstances and addiction issues

I hope we all can help those in need in some way

I hope to see this fellow again and sit down and have a chat with him to find out his name and his story

blessing to you all

bt

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Tom O'Brien

12/14/2024 10:00:39 PM ---- Updated 12/14/2024 10:01:33 PM

Good on you, Bryon. It's easy to forget just how fortunate most of us are. We have so much in western society while there are people in the world who don't even have running water. Homelessness is a serious issue where I am, too. It feels good to help others, especially in this giving time of year.

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Steve April

12/15/2024 12:30:48 AM ---- Updated 12/15/2024 1:02:26 AM

I remember a couple of "homeless people" in my past, that I befriended. One was Denise, a thin gal with long red hair, and eyes that seem to jump out at you.

She stood on a busy traffic island, and was friendly and affable. One day she was at a Peet's asking for a free coffee, and I bought her a coffee.

Her tale of woe, well, indeed. An abusive, junkie boyfriend, (I met him in court one day, where she asked me to go for protection), a daughter who would not talk to her anymore, who worked in a bank. (??). ...A mysterious aunt who she called who she claims was very wealthy, and never came through with help.

She slept in the park, quite dangerous. She had Graves Disease, causes bulging eyes... she found a boyfriend, a young homeless guy, last I heard....

Dennis was a full-bearded guy, major back problems. Caught in a downward spiral, dealing with pain, with pills...out on the street...a tough life...

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The CODE

12/15/2024 6:02:15 PM

A charming storie Bryon, I hope the guy
can find some shelter from the street!

Nobody should have to go through this
ordeal, govs gotta a lot to answer too
regarding this situation!

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Bryon Tosoff

12/16/2024 11:07:48 PM

This unhoused situation is becoming an epidemic here in Canada. and I know it is probably worse in the US.

Our nations are paying a price here and we are being overwhelmed by so many issues and I am not sure if it can be resolved in my life time cause I am in the last part of my allotted runway in this life I have been given , my time is limited.

Perhaps in 20 years or 30 it may be able to turn things around.

Whole streets are taken up in tents in towns cities and in areas in parks.

I can only pray for an intervention. and do what I can to alleviate it in my little world , I have no answers. no solutions, somewhere maybe it is better in other countries that are not so disconnected from the greater good of mankind and have better methods to address these situations

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The CODE

12/17/2024 5:52:35 PM

Dream on Bryon, the govs around the world
do not give a s**t about this, they make me
angry! Reaching out is great, it is amazing
what you find out just by talking to people!

Rock on my friend!

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