Homeless

I had finished fishing.  Not feeling very well, I sat down and stared at the stream - little bugs floating above the water, landing - a bubble, rings and no more bug...

Then I heard, "Hey, sweetie."  I turned around and there was a woman, about fifty, on a bike, "Sir, are you homeless?"  She was so nice about it. 

I said, "I have a home, it's all good, I fish a lot and I'm just sitting here watching the bugs on the water."

I could tell she was feeling sorry for me, "I've seen you around and wondered if you have a home.  You have a home, right?"

I could tell she wasn't convinced so I tried to sound like a homeowner, "Yeah, I have a home and am up to my ears in a thirty year mortgage. (which isn't exactly true... it's just the first mainstream thing I could think of)"

"Well", she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I mean... sorry for interrupting your 'wah'"  Not sure what a 'wah' is.

Of course, being me, I thought about it all the way home.  Thoughts went from:

1. I think I need to shave
2. I hope everybody isn't scared of me, you know, "Stay away from the homeless fishing freak, I hear he's living off of them, can you believe that $%#!"
3. "Sign of the times... sign of the times... better learn to fish yourself... and grow some corn... it's going to get baaaad... this is the beginning... I mean you can tell he's not exactly crazy... probably just a normal guy... and it's come to this... OMG... what is this world coming to... Johnny... stay away from that man, we don't know him"
4. Kim fed the homeless downtown cookies this weekend
5. In some ways I do feel homeless
6. Kinda cool, now I can do the Van Gogh thing
7. I wonder if I've been nicknamed "Gollum"
8. I hope nobody thinks I'm the one who laid that turd under the bridge a while back.  That was sick.  Nobody would dispose of it, so it sat there for like three and a half weeks.  Disgusting!
9. A snip from here: Parked on 22nd and Pearl - west of UT. Wandered around. A guy jingled a change jar, then laughed, "Aww bruh, you're one of us." Was it my straw hat? That makes two days in a row where I've been called "brother". I like it. Ended up going north through Hemphill Park. To the sound of a dog fetching a ball, about fell asleep under a tree. From there, at 37th and Home Street, stumbled on an art school: Austin Visual Arts Association. Spent the day drawing on a bench at the entrance to the old building. Talked to an artist, who was wearing a shirt with Picasso's Guernica. He said the school was the oldest art school in Austin. He asked me if I was serious. I don't know if I convinced him if I was or not. He seemed sceptical, said something about running away. The art school is next to Austin Groups for the Elderly. 37th is obviously close to 38 1/2, where the medical center is. It's walking distance to UT, Central Market, The Heart Hospital etc. Found a house for sale a stones-throw from the art school. 
10. When a homeless person says, "You're one of us, bruh", he is saying, "You are homeless too." Stumbling on art. Painting. Finding a home street there. Getting some advice from wise people. Hating Houston. Finding home again here.
11. I hope I don't embarrass Kaley
12. Nobody can understand how fun it is to catch a little sunfish on a flyrod... all they want is the 32" freaking thing... if they'd just understand... what I need is a #2 or #3... It's the real deal.  It's fun!
13. I know this song sucks, But You Gonna Wait Fat Boy... Wait Till Tomorrow... 
14. My retarded fishing buddy understands...
15. Am I crazy?
16. I do have a home right? What if I don't have a home and I'm crazy and have made a lot of stuff up and I'm really homeless... but I've convinced myself I live at this perfect home with a great family and all... what if... and I am heading "there" now... and what if... suddenly... I can't find "there"... and I realize that I have dementia...???
17. Hey, Yo, Mr. Guernica --- I was serious!  I wasn't running from home... just trying to get there...
18. Gotta throw in Bob Dylan
    
    You've gone to the finest school all right, Mister Lonely
    But you know you only used to get juiced in it
    And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
    And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
    You said you'd never compromise
    With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
    He's not selling any alibis
    As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
    And say do you want to make a deal?
    
    How does it feel
    How does it feel
    To be on your own
    With no direction home
    Like a complete unknown
    Like a rolling stone ?
19. Found a house for sale a stones-throw from the art school.  That guy shoulda listened to me.  Nobody listens.  How does it feel?  Feels like no direction home... you know... like a rolling stone..
20. And I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm No More!

PS: I think I'm coming down with something.  My lungs are burny.  My legs feel rubbery.