Bag Lady

Just a little interesting story I thought I'd share. Do you ever just have one of those days? The days where you just don't feel like yourself and the only thing that seems to run through your mind are all the cynical things going on in you life. I've discovered that little things are what make a big difference. A couple of days before Thanksgiving I was on the bus on my way to go to school when an elderly woman who looked homeless and seemed to be having the similar day I was. In one hand she carried a large black bag of her personal items, in the other a torn and beat up suitcase, and on her back a backpack. As soon as she got on the bus she was asked to move to the back because of all of her things but also because of her odor. Her scent was very familiar to me, it smelled of struggle and despair, her body expression revealed restlessness. When she came towards the back of the bus where i was sitting, she placed the large bag in front of the door. I noticed her backpack would possibly fall off the bus and offered to hold her things. I introduced myself as Alexandria and she introduced herself as Roxanne. She called me an Angel and said that my parents raised me very well. I told her thank you. We were both heading in the similar direction and I didn't mind helping her carry her things. We walked and talked and she spoke of her daughter who was a teacher in the area and of her husband who was a Vietnam vet. She spoke of many Vets. like her husband that haven't received the treatment they needed. I mentioned to her that when the Vietnam soldiers returned from the war they didn't receive a warm or sympathetic welcome, they returned home to protesters who chanted things such as " Baby Killers" and she said this is very true. When we ended our little journey, we were outside of a storage place. Before going to class, I felt like I should leave her with something and the only thing i had on me was ten dollars so I gave her that. I believe what touched me the most was when I handed her the money there were tears that began to build up in her eyes. When she said Bless You my heart melted and as we hugged I felt her compassion, perserverance, and appreciation for living each day and appreciation for me. The one thing I will remember the most is what she said about today's youth. "Today's youth are the most compassionate and no matter what people say little things do make a big difference"