[Dion]

As the last bus came in tonight, I saw a few people who were glassy eyed and dealing with some sort of substance abuse- but I met a stream of guys who arranged for their wake-up calls. A temp agency will be here to pick them up at 3 am and 5 am. They have jobs shoveling snow. Their clothes are soaked from working today so staff will wash and dry piles of jeans and coats overnight. The staff tell me this is all the men have to wear when they leave first thing in the morning.

I know not everyone here has jobs. But 50 percent of them do - and they are certainly the people who stand out to me. I can’t help but notice them. I am drawn to them because they prove me wrong. I like when I learn things.. and tonight I have learned that there really are myths about homeless people. They do not choose to be here. They are not lazy.

http://www.greatcity.ca/blog/?cat=13&paged=2

5:30 am… Guys are rushing out for the bus to get to work. I am surprised at the hustle bustle this early in the morning. The men have lunches packed by the shelter… one sandwich inside a baggie. Most of them work construction - I think to myself they don’t have enough to eat for that type of work.

All of the men look frantic. They are not dawdling - they want to get on that bus. I remember the look from when I was a kid. Dad rushing out the door. We’ve all been there…trying to get to work on time… only these guys just slept on mats, haven’t had a shower and many will spend the day outside in the cold.

This is the strongest impression I have of my time at the shelter. The look in these mens’ eyes. The determination they have to get to work. Just like everyone else in Calgary this morning.

http://www.greatcity.ca/blog/?cat=13

Maybe I shouldn’t admit this! I almost fell asleep tonight during our news. It was during a commercial near the end of the show. I put my head in my hands and thought “I’ll just close my eyes for one little second” . When our floor manager yelled out “30-seconds” (until news begins again).. his voice startled me. I’d gone all the way to that state right before you fall sleep.

I was at the shelter Tuesday night.. it’s now Thursday and I’m still not back to full speed. While trying to drag my butt out of bed this morning I thought of the people I met on Tuesday; Al… the lady who talked too fast who is also 44… the pregnant girl who’s addicted… and all those men and women who had to get up early and go to work. They woke up exhausted at the shelter again this morning. They didn’t get a break. They didn’t get to go home and crawl into a firm, warm bed that actually has a pillow.

People often say “why don’t they just do something, and change their lives”. Being this tired today, it became clear to me that if I were homeless, I would not have the energy to turn my life around. I would not have what it would take to get myself out of the rut. Many people ask me where I get all my energy from. I finally know how to answer that question. I have energy because I always get a good nights sleep.

http://www.greatcity.ca/blog/?cat=13