I was expecting the worst but received all the best.
Traci was sick, but Nick was coming out anyway, so I wasn’t alone.
Nick’s van is in the shop, but mine runs fine and I had plenty of time to pick him up before we left for Detroit.
I was struggling to manage making chili for outreach because I knew it was going to be cold, and my friend Janine asked me if she could make a large pot of pasta and sauce for the homeless friends we’d see last night. There were dinner rolls and pumpkin bread and homemade cookies. Lots of love in every bite.
One of the last men we served lived downtown. He came running up to the caravan begging for food. The volunteers pointed him over to Maggie, the big white van, and he did a jig right there on the sidewalk! His praise of thanks echoed between the skyscrapers. People were thrilled over the warm food. Blankets and socks were the big stars of the night.
It was a night where I knew we were useful. People were hiding. We found them. We fed them. My highlight of the night was I got to see my best friend in Detroit!
Darla!!!
My favorite homeless, three-legged, pitbull, baby! She remembered me! We hugged and snuggled all over the crunchy ground. I gave her and the 2 other pups a box of dog food. We were there and snuggling for a little while. The group had served her human, and the volunteers were ready to roll on. When Darla could tell were ready to leave, she bolted out from the tree line and ran straight to my van. The other volunteers were concerned and tried to call her back. I told them she’s fine. She knows where she’s going.
I opened the passenger door, and she hopped into the front seat. I turned the heat up and she snuggled up onto the seat and relaxed with me. I love her. She loves me. It’s the real kind of love. The kind of unconditional, nonjudgmental love that helps us to survive. Darla doesn’t care that I couldn’t quit smoking this week. She loves me anyway. There is no living creature I’ve ever met who exudes more love than this homeless, three-legged, pitbull dog.
We love each other because we’re going through this wild journey of life together.
And that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
p.s. please send more blankets & handwarmers
