[dd74]

Last night, a homeless woman pounded on every door on our street, including mine when I wasn't home, in hope of getting a handout from the residents. My wife called me, just as I was rounding the corner to our house - obviously alarmed by having our front door POUNDED ON, and hearing a voice shout through the door that she needed money. I pulled up our street, sighted the woman running up the neighbor's front walk to pound on their door, then when no one answered, she proceeded to the next house. Me? I pulled in to our driveway, where she promptly dashed down the street, and into our driveway to ask me for money. She was quite obviously deranged or impaired. I told her I had nothing to give - possibly the wrong thing to say, yes - however, once I did say that, she verbally attacked me until she noticed the 911, and asked, "Are you a lawyer or a doctor? Yeah, you're real sorry, aren't you?"

I used to work in downtown L.A., near Skid Row. I met homeless people who had truly incredible if not at times heartbreaking stories. I still see these souls now and then, and when there is recognition between they and myself, we talk. In as far as a couple bucks, a five, even a ten, so what - it's just money - I'm lucky enough to make more of it, so I'll give whatever I can. But last night was utterly alarming, particularly as it could have involved my family. I do not find sympathy in myself when the homeless become as aggressive as they have in the last few years. To be certain, being confronted in my own driveway didn't win me over to their cause or empathy toward their desperation, which is as sad as a woman who in dire enough straights, find she has to wander from door-to-door to ask for a handout.