One can only speculate

I'm driving home from work tonight, taking my usual route through traffic. This particular route takes me down 7th street in a westerly direction. One of the places I cruise by is Micky's Diner. This old train car is a standard for folks needing the "greasy spoon" type of breakfast, or a great burger for lunch. Further on down 7th is a place called "Dorothy Day Homeless shelter."

Every day there are 50-75 individuals milling about this building. Some are inside the tall wrought iron fence and utilizing the picnic tables and benches that are scattered about. Others mill about on the sidewalk, or cross the street in a lazy fashion and hold up traffic to sit among the trees in a median park like area.

The people milling about are mostly black or latino with some whites scattered in. Oddly enough there are no indians... I suppose that's because they are too busy working the exit ramps of I-94 and Cedar Ave.

So tonight isn't much different than any other weekenight as I make my way home. Spring is in the air and the sky is brewing a thunderstorm. There is the oddest thing that occurs as I drive. I notice a couple, mostly the guy who is dressed in a t-shirt, faded jeans, long hair and beard and a flag bandana. As he prepared to walk past the homeless shelter his hand slid back to his jean pocket and he pulled out his billfold. Then, clutching it in his hand he walked through the crowds.

One can only speculate why ...