Bums talking politics.

For now I don't want to go all politico on anyone -- I'm feeling anti-opinionated today. But I have to tell this story.

In between my work and my house, which are probably about 15 miles apart, there are easily 8 - 10 homeless people asking for help, food, water, work, anything they can get. And generally, I see no one offer up any assistance.

Today I gave a guy $2. When I handed it to him, he said the standard, "thanks and God bless you" that you generally hear in these instances. Then as he was walking away he said, "I'm a freaking vet. I served four years in Iraq. I'm a vet and I'm on the streets, begging for money." That's when I really assessed the situation. He didn't have a backpack, no drink, no pile of belongings. He did have, however, a prosthetic foot and the inside of a mountain dew box with his begging written on it.

That's when I said, "I get angry at our country for this very reason. I'm sorry." And then my light turned green and I left. But as soon as I pulled away from that light, I knew I was forgetting something -- I didn't thank him. I went home, sort of with a pit in my stomach for not thanking a man who probably lost his foot fighting for my right to healthcare to ensure I don't have to lose mine... and things like that.

I went home, which was only a minute further down the road, filled a giant gatorade bottle with water, loaded L&B into my car, and headed back that way.

This time I pulled into the turn lane next to him, held the bottle of water out the window and said, "sorry I didn't say thanks the first time. This is all I can afford to give. Thanks for fighting for your country and I'm sorry your country isn't returning the favor."

He reached out, took the bottle of water, said something about how no one had ever stopped twice and given him something, how that meant a lot, and how he hoped one day his country would actually take care of him the way he'd taken care of it.

Then, I shit you not, he stopped mid-sentence, looked at the Obama sticker on the side window of my car, and said "there's gonna be a revolution. They're going to kill Obama." And then frowned.

The light turned green, naturally. But before I went, I said, "I hope that doesn't happen, but in the event it does, I hope he can save you first." And then I left.

I'm still perplexed. I guess I'll just leave it at that.