King of the Road

Today I did something a little unusual. It’s something I have an opportunity to do just about every weekday, but I don’t.

I gave $5 to a jobless guy.

I don’t know whether he’s homeless, since his sign mentions “job ended, bills didn’t.” Of course, the sign also said, “Happy Holidays,” so the situation could have changed since he first wrote it.

The man’s name is Rick and he works the Shady Grove Road medial strip at the intersection with Frederick Road, right next to the “Welcome to Gaithersburg” sign.

Besides the above messages, the sign also proclaims, “Curb Patrol: I’ll take your car trash.” I like that, since he is at least trying to work instead of simply beg.

As I said, I hardly ever give him anything.

In fact, today was the first time.

I usually have trash in the car, but I don’t always have cash (I tend not to carry any), so I ignore him as I’m stopped there but flash him a peace sign as I drive by (a trademark wave that he also uses). Today I managed to have both, so I figured I’d give it a go.

I pulled up to the traffic light, noted that I had time to complete my business with Rick, and opened my window. When he saw me dangling an old grocery bag, he sprinted over to me, saying, “Be right there, sweetheart.” He held out his garbage bag and took my trash, but seemed surprised when I handed him the money. He leaned forward and said, “I was just talking to those workmen over there. They’re putting in a new red light camera. You drive by here every day, so you be careful to stop so that you don’t get a ticket.” And he walked away.

How about that: $5 trash removal and traffic tips.

So what does this have to do with memories?

Not much.

I remember talk of hobos. That came from grandparents, possibly mentioning once upon a time when one came to a back door looking for a handout. It was still vivid in their memories, though I don’t know that it happened in my lifetime. I never saw a hobo.

I saw hobos in magazines.

And Red Skelton played one on television.

There were songs about them.

But aside from that? No.

I know that there were homeless people.

I know that there were jobless people.

But I never saw them.

Did we live in some time warp or a cocoon? Was Middletown that off the beaten track that we avoided that?

Or did I just not see it?