7/7/7, the three 7’s, not so lucky

7/7/7, the three 7’s, not so lucky

It is a little after 12:00AM on Sunday morning. Yesterday was July 7, 2007. I made note of the date because my favorite newscasters would report its possibilities of it ever happening again in our lifetime as well as the possibilities of good fortune. They reported that more couples would unite on this day as the three 7’s are supposedly to be good luck.

I’m not one who believes in luck, but once, I won a few hundred dollars when three 7’s lined-up on the gambling-casino machine. Yes, I would say that was lucky 7’s. Of course, that was so long ago, that now I can hardly recall if the machine I was gambling on was called “Lucky 7’s.” I suppose it doesn’t matter as it was the first time I had ever won a large amount of money, and I haven’t won nor played much since. I do realize that gambling isn’t for me, however my spouse is a pro at either losing or playing.

Yesterday morning, I gave my lottery-playing spouse a cheerful, “Good 7/7/7 to you.” Although he was he usual stoic self, I continued to state that this date or numbers would never repeat in our lifetime. I told him he should be sure to buy a ticket today, as it was suppose to be a lucky day. Well, perhaps that’s what I shouldn’t have said as just hours ago, before the clock struck 12:00AM, Sunday morning, he lost on those two lottery tickets. And hours from now, he will be shaking from the shock of empty pockets.

Yesterday, 7/7/7, both my spouse and I had a nice breakfast with his mother. Yes, we had it all; sausage, bacon, eggs, grits, and pancakes. (Only I had the boxed-pancakes.) The day started bright, sunny, and certainly hot. Although I despise warm temperatures, we needed to venture out. We stopped at his mother’s house to have his nephew add more RAM to my computer, but before doing so, we had to take a drive.

From the inner City, there’s not many Best Buys’ around, so we traveled in the heat to South Colorado Boulevard. We were stopped by the light and while waiting, I looked around at the changes in the area. New and expensive renovated buildings; businesses and landscapes were freshly in place. It was rather refreshing, yet I wondered where the money had come from. I didn’t vote for these expenses. On the left side of the street was a new building and from where I was seated, I assumed it was a bank. Next to that building was a Black man holding a sign. I thought to myself, ‘in this neighborhood, there would never be a beggar. This man must be a protestor of some sort’ and almost instantly, the Black man on “Falling Down” came to mind and I thought of his sign, “Not economically viable.” Finally, the arrow-light turned green, and we proceeded on and into the Best Buy parking lot. What a terrible relief to step outside in the scorching sun as the air condition in the car was just beginning to cool. The helpful store clerk told us that they did not have the RAM that was listed on sale, but checked the computer and noted that we could travel to the one in Aurora on Mississippi. The three of us returned to the 100+ degree car.

At the light, I could see the man on the corner more clearly. I’m certain I would have noted if he was standing in front of a bank, but that is not what caught my eye. I read his sign that read something like ‘Down on my luck…changing my life…please help…God bless you.’ I don’t recall, as it was not as important as the man who was holding the sign. It was Henry. My husband rolled down the window and said his hello’s while we both reached into our wallets and handed over a few bills. The light changed.

As we drove away, my heart began to sink, as I had known Henry for years. I’m not very sociable, so I never really hung out with him, but me and other members of my family liked him. Henry use to live next door to me. He was a loud party-animal and he use to drive me nuts with all of the noise he and his friends made. I presumed he was a heavy drinker as every time I’d see or smell him, he appeared to be intoxicated. It has been some time since I’ve seen Henry.

Years ago, when he was evicted from the apartment, I was told that Henry had lost his City job and I would often see him sitting at the bus stop near East High School. The last time I had encountered him was when my spouse and I saw him panhandling outside a local Walgreen’s on East Colfax. It was awkward, then as well as it is now. Again, rumor had it that he was now living in South Denver (where I saw him on 07/07/07) and that he had a great job and was doing well. It was a rumor.

On 7/7/7, Henry didn’t smell, but had a rough raggedy-cragged beard and heavy clothing. And when he reached inside the car to retrieve the money, he took hold of it like a homeless person. In my opinion, he appeared embarrassed while my heart screamed with anger and sadness.

For some odd reason, my spouse noticed my disposition and said I need not worry. He repeatedly said that my brother said he was doing well and that perhaps he was on that corner getting extra money. I didn’t buy it.

I have volunteered for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, The Gathering Place and other soup kitchens. I have gone as far as helping homeless people to find jobs and a place to stay. My spouse must have forgotten about K Swanson, as she was one we had tried to help the most. Henry was homeless and in great need. I no longer believed the rumor, and was worried and concerned throughout the day.

Henry is someone I know. At times he made me laugh and at other times upset that he made such loud noise during the late nights throughout the early mornings when I had to get up for work. However, it didn’t change my feelings for him as a man.

Here I was presumably struggling, but Henry [as well as KS] are people we know and had tried to help. Whoever said that 07/07/07 was a lucky day, was misdirected or was inconsiderate of whom the luck would bestow. What was so lucky about seeing Henry? What was so lucky about being homeless?

My husband says I worry too much about others and I should be more concerned about self. “Isn’t that the way of most people in the world?” he would ask. “You have bills that you struggle to pay and are one-step or day from being homeless yourself.” But come on, no one could rest and enjoy the comforts of a cool home during the sweltered-heat summer months and warm comfort during the winter months, knowing that someone we personally know is out on the streets; suffering. We have a roof over our heads. Our refrigerator is filled with sorted foods and the last time I stood on the scale, it yelled, “Get off me, FatA**.” Our vehicles aren’t new, but each of them carry us from A to Z over and over again, and the gasoline bill is almost always paid in advance. The water has never been turned off and the electricity has always been constant. Although this computer and other similar items are throughout our home, I have often suggested to sale them to cover the high cost of prescriptions. Okay, so we both have medical insurance, and although we cant afford the premiums and prescriptions, it is there. My nails are painted with cheap always-chipped nail polish from Wally-Mart and I have other cheap luxury items and products throughout my home. How many people can say that?

I am full aware that many of the homeless people suffer from some sort of dementia, but not all chose to be out there on the streets fighting the elements. In the past, I have lost everything except for a roof over my head and food to eat, but never homeless, so I have always had an okay life. It just sucks to see a friend…someone I know.

Hours later when I finally returned home, the sky had swallowed the sun and my poor human-like dog was left alone at home suffering with the sounds of thunder in a mostly dark house. She seemed fine at first, but I could tell she had been spooked. I suppose it was good that is was a good 7/7/7 that she didn’t potty inside the house, but of course she has been alone over 7 hours before without using the bathroom inside the house. Again, she thinks she’s so human and for her, going to the bathroom is such a delicate thing. (Not inside “her home.”)

When I finally got my computer plugged in, luckily (7/7/7) it was super fast. When I began updating my website, I was not so lucky as it would skip several of the files. My dog is curled up at my feet and although this is the norm, she is appears to be restless. My mother-in-law is sick and my legs hurt. Oh, and then there’s Henry and the other homeless people out there.

Happy 07/07/07. I do hope that others had better luck.

This day, or yesterday, it was indeed a lucky day for my spouse and I as we are not homeless.

Happy 07/07/07