Something to Think About When You Go to Bed

There is a man named "Jimmy" who lives in my neighborhood. Jimmy is homeless. He tells me that if you have to be homeless, Hollywood is a good place because of the tourists from other countries. They tend to pity him more than local Angelinos. He tells jokes and they give him their change. 

Jimmy is different from many of the the homeless you encounter in and around Hollywood. He does his best to stay clean and presentable, he is organized and he speaks well. This is because Jimmy has served in one of the branches of the United States Military, but as a result, Jimmy suffers from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and can't keep a job because he cannot focus on a task for more than a few seconds at a time. This is because he lives in a constant state of fear. He hasn't shared details of his experiences, but when asked how he ended up in his current situation, he simply responds, "Because I'm scared."

This fear causes Jimmy to only sleep when he is absolutely exhausted and only during the day. I don't know where he goes to feel safe at night. 

I first met Jimmy sleeping on this bench. I was purging things that I no longer needed and took a stack of blankets to this park at the end of my street. I knew someone would put them to use. 

Jimmy is no longer allowed to sleep on this bench during the day and can no longer be in the park after sunset. Police randomly patrol the area to ensure that it remains a safe and clean space for the general public. Unfortunately for Jimmy, he is no longer categorized as being apart of the general public. He is homeless and therefore an expendable class of human being.

Jimmy is not alone, though. There are thousands of homeless people living in Los Angeles, many of whom have served this country yet the social services provided by federal and local governments to assist them are simply inadequate for the volume of cases reported annually. 

Ironically, I stumbled across this bench, albeit nicer, in a store front window and thought of Jimmy.

 
I was amused by how similar this expression of Art, taste and design was to the public bench in the park that Jimmy was no longer allowed to sleep on. I was even more amused by the four figure price tag.

I wonder if the person that purchases this bench would allow Jimmy to sleep on it? Surely they would appreciate the fact that Jimmy has made a valiant effort to ensure our own safety. Perhaps they would let him feel safe, if only for an afternoon, on their bright, shiny new bench. 

I know this would never happen but I don't want Jimmy to have to think about benches. I want Jimmy to have a bed, a roof and food; a place to feel safe. Amazingly, Jimmy is grateful for that park bench when he is able to steal a couple hours. Although he is rarely allowed more than that.

Think about Jimmy the next time you go to bed.