 
Diehard
Member
Username: Diehard
Post Number: 232
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:19 pm: |    |
OK, so last night on my way out of the office I saw someone huddled under a blanket sleeping on the sidewalk. It must've been about 10 degrees out and windy. I felt so bad for him/her that I wished I had another blanket to offer. I saw that I did have a comfy fleece pillow in my car, so I tucked an orange into it and put it by his/her head, thinking they'd wake up and appreciate it.
I told my husband about this and he was kind of pissed at first because his mom had made that pillow a few years ago (oops.) But he understood, and figured she wouldn't be offended.
Fast forward to this morning. The dude's gone and so is the orange, but the pillow's still sitting right where I left it. Do I reclaim it, take it home and run it through a hot wash cycle?
I don't dare ask anyone at the office, because they're the kind of people who use hand sanitizer after touching a doorknob, and they'd be horrified.
Second question: Doesn't this whole scenario seem ridiculous enough for a "Seinfeld" episode?
Oh yeah, and happy new year! |
Detroitnerd
Member
Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 1744
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:21 pm: | |
"We can't take that pillow back. It's been in the bathroom." |
Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 2511
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:27 pm: | |
Some will say yes; some will say no; I'll just say you're a very good person. |
Cheddar_bob
Member
Username: Cheddar_bob
Post Number: 1659
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:27 pm: | |
I'd take the pillow back and wash it. While there is nothing wrong with cleanliness, I could not possibly care less what my coworkers think. |
Gnome
Member
Username: Gnome
Post Number: 532
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:29 pm: | |
Sure, wash it, and put in hubby's car. Then he'll always carry a reminder of his mom, your kindness and the homeless problem in Detroit.
Kind of like wearing a POW/MIA bracelet.
This time don't tell him anything. Plead ignorance and just let him deal with the mystery. |
Cheddar_bob
Member
Username: Cheddar_bob
Post Number: 1660
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:29 pm: | |
Oh, and yes I think you could hang a Seinfeld episode around it. You would probably need a strong entwined subplot, though |
Melody
Member
Username: Melody
Post Number: 55
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:35 pm: | |
"Sure, wash it, and put in hubby's car. Then he'll always carry a reminder of his mom, your kindness and the homeless problem in Detroit."
I agree. (Wash it twice, though.) That homeless person probably didn't have the strength or means to carry around a pillow. |
Gazhekwe
Member
Username: Gazhekwe
Post Number: 1234
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:45 pm: | |
Agree, take it and wash it. It will be fine. |
E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 1490
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:49 pm: | |
Take it back and wash it. Kudos to you. |
Kenp
Member
Username: Kenp
Post Number: 965
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:56 pm: | |
Nice deed Diehard.
I would get the pillow back.
For this to be a good Seinfeld, something funny must happen when you go to get it. |
Diehard
Member
Username: Diehard
Post Number: 233
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:59 pm: | |
Thanks guys.
I just went out there, and, in full view of all of downtown and the people I work with, picked up a pillow off a dirty sidewalk. And I don't care what they think.  |
Diehard
Member
Username: Diehard
Post Number: 234
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:02 pm: | |
Oh yeah, and there's still time for it to turn "Seinfeld." What if the homeless guy sees it in my car and steals it back? Or my coworkers ambush me and spray me with Lysol? |
Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 4723
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:04 pm: | |
Why should that pillow be any different than one at any hotel/motel? Just wash it--pretend you're a housekeeper at some motel... |
Defendbrooklyn
Member
Username: Defendbrooklyn
Post Number: 598
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:06 pm: | |
Wash and keep...1 blanket in yesterdays weahter...man that had to be insane.
When you stop and think about it, being homeless in Michigan (very cold winters) has to be tough...
Why dont homeless people make it their life mission to get to a warm state? |
Kenp
Member
Username: Kenp
Post Number: 966
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:06 pm: | |
I can see the headlines in the paper or on Fox with your picture, "Office worker steals from homeless man" |
Carolcb
Member
Username: Carolcb
Post Number: 3446
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:07 pm: | |
I am proud of you. |
Oldredfordette
Member
Username: Oldredfordette
Post Number: 3580
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:08 pm: | |
Very cool, Diehard. |
401don
Member
Username: 401don
Post Number: 192
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:16 pm: | |
If you see a guy downtown wearing a puffy shirt and a rug, eating a muffin stump while pulling a rickshaw with tupperware in it offer it to him.
Seinfeld sure made fun of the homeless. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 4404
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:24 pm: | |
"When you stop and think about it, being homeless in Michigan (very cold winters) has to be tough...
Why dont homeless people make it their life mission to get to a warm state?"
I've wondered that myself. If you have nothing else to do, why not just start walking? Is boxcar hopping still possible in this day and age? |
Pamequus
Member
Username: Pamequus
Post Number: 142
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:37 pm: | |
Believe me, they do!! Along about September southern towns get a huge influx of homeless. You see them on all the interstates hitchhiking to the warmer climates and wandering in off of the interstate toward downtown. Along about April and May they head back from where they came. |
Bobj
Member
Username: Bobj
Post Number: 3551
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:38 pm: | |
Bless you, Diehard, very nice act on your part |
Pamequus
Member
Username: Pamequus
Post Number: 143
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 3:38 pm: | |
Diehard....I agree with the others, good for you!! |
Diehard
Member
Username: Diehard
Post Number: 236
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 6:52 pm: | |
Why thanks everyone. I was expecting more "OMG don't touch that, you'll get cooties!" responses, but y'all are feeling me. Good to know I'm not crazy after all.
Seinfeld, on the other hand, was an over-the-top germ freak, wasn't he? |
Danny
Member
Username: Danny
Post Number: 6931
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 7:17 pm: | |
Good for you Diehard.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. God will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing. |
Evelyn
Member
Username: Evelyn
Post Number: 52
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 - 8:47 pm: | |
Good deed, Diehard.
Wash it in hot water, and if anyone says boo, point out that our obsession with cleanliness has only made bacteria stronger, and thus, more deadly.
At least he took the orange! |
Dustin89
Member
Username: Dustin89
Post Number: 171
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 12:20 am: | |
I'm impressed & it is wonderful that you were thinking more of the homeless situation than what people think. |
Detroithabitater
Member
Username: Detroithabitater
Post Number: 104
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 1:34 am: | |
Sometimes it's easy to grow callus to the homeless problem when you see it day after day.
Good work Diehard. |
Crystal
Member
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 91
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 7:23 am: | |
Good job, Diehard! I'm proud of you too! |