Between these two…
There’s a homeless man living under lower Wacker Drive just off the walking path that follows the river. During the day, while the inhabitant is out foraging, I often stroll past his little patch of concrete that he’s carved out for himself.
There’s his bedroll, folded neatly and tucked-up in the corner. Alongside the bedroll is a little plastic table delicately decorated with treasures of salvaged abandonment.
Leaning against the lamppost is a broom and wastebasket, ready to face the day with a clean start. Clinging to the air all around this tiny oasis of care and cleanliness, is the overpowering stench of human urine. Old, drunken urine that flowed from the rotten guts of hardened veterans.
Just a few miles down the road on Canal Street are two old – yet still usable – buildings. Buildings with 100s of rooms – all empty. I think about the disconnect between these two realities as I sit here drinking my morning coffee in my warm and welcome home.