Beneath the Surface

I've had to deal with a lack of power where I'm sleeping, so I've spent the last couple of days looking for places to go for electricity/wifi access. This morning I went to get coffee at McDonald's where I used to live, which is a fairly affluent neighborhood. I'd live here for over four years, but it's only in the last couple of months that I've become aware of the homeless population in the neighborhood. I ran into someone who used to come to dinner on Tuesdays but 'Denny' (not his real name) "moved" into this neighborhood to get away from the predators in greater Pasadena. We got caught up & I learned a lot about what I'd describe as "underground" support there is for the homeless in this particular neighborhood; there are a number of restaurants that leave food out every night - and once they get to know your situation they'll even let you know exactly what time they'll leave the food outside. And while the police are vigilant about potential miscreants, they don't categorize the homeless that way. Apparently one of their sergeants videotaped an interview with 'Denny' and showed it to the city council and the police don't harass him at the two places where he sleeps regularly. Frankly I'm kind of surprised to learn some of this; I lived here for over four years and during that time if you'd asked you if there were any homeless in my neighborhood, I would have said no. But maybe that reflects the mindset of the residents whereas the folks who work here are more in touch with the financial realities of the less fortunate. As I'm typing this, I note the facial expression of a teenager at an adjacent table watching me work on my laptop here, and I can read the judgement written there. It is what it is.

I am now engaged in conversation with a couple who've also showed up to tap into the free wifi and electric outlet. I'm not sure what's going on, but the conversation has been unusual to say the least. Upon hearing certain details of my situation, I have been offered the names of 3-4 people as potential contacts in the music and dance arenas as sources for potential employment. Naturally I'm kinda skeptical; and seeing that register on my face, I'm told that they don't do this for everyone, and the female tells me that she can sense that I need the help and that I am somehow deserving of it.  So I'm now trying to figure out whether I'm part of a divine appointment, or I'm just humoring some folks who just want attention..  So maybe this couple really sees me beneath the surface, or I need to discern what's going on beneath the surface for them. With the names I've been given to research, it'll be pretty easy to get an idea about it.