My Nonprofit Reviews

A HOMELESS CHRISTMAS STORY by STEVE REIMER


IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND THE WAVES WERE PUMPING. CAN’T REMEMBER WHICH CHRISTMAS IT WAS. 1997 OR 98 I DON’T KNOW, ALL I KNOW IS I WAS HOMELESS. SO HERE I AM SITTING ON THE BEACH WITH MY SLEEPING BAG AND BACKPACK , A FIFTH OF VODKA AND 58 CENTS TO MY NAME. LIKE I SAY THE WAVES WERE PUMPING, PERFECT RIGHTS AND LEFTS—EVERYONE WAS OUT IT SEEMED BUT ME.DRINKING MY VODKA I STARTED REFLECTING ON MY LIFE AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED, I SHOULD BE OUT IN THE WATER WITH THE REST OF MY FRIENDS.
BUT INSTEAD HERE I SIT—NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY TO SHARE CHRISTMAS WITH—JUST MY BOTTLE AND ME—I STARTED GETTING EMOTIONAL AND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF—THE MORE I DRANK THE MORE MISEABLE I GOT—AFTER WATCHING THE WAVES ALL DAY AND DOWN TO MY LAST DRINK—I DECIDED TO GO RECYCLING(CANNING) SO I COULD GET ANOTHER BOTTLE AND HAVE A LITTLE MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY—I MADE IT AS FAR AS THE REDONDO BEACH PIER WHERE I STOPPPED TO TAKE A REST—AGAIN GETTING EMOTIONAL AT MY SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS I STARTED SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH TEARS IN MY EYES—PEOPLE STARTED WALKING UP TO ME AND HANDING ME TWENTY DOLLARS BILLS AND TENS –SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS GET SOMETHING TO EAT ON ME OR HAVE A DRINK ON ME—THE MORE MONEY THAT WAS HANDED TO ME THE MORE EMOTIONAL I BECAME-HERE IT IS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AND ALL THESE PEOPLE HANDING ME MONEY—THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO IN A WEEK OR SO AFTER NEW YEARS IS CALLING THE COPS ON ME FOR DRUNK IN PUBLIC OR SOME OTHER FUNKY CRIME—WHY CAN’T PEOPLE HAVE THAT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ALL YEAR AROUND—
BY THE WAY I WALKED OFF THE REDONDO BEACH PIER $130.58 RICHER—I WENT STRAIGHT TO ALBERTSONS GOT A HALF GALLON OF VODKA AND A RACK OF THE BBQ RIBS WENT TO HERMOSA TO CAMP ON THE BEACH AND GET PLOWED—HOPE CHAPEL WAS HAVING A CHRISTMAS SPREAD ON THE STRAND AND PIER AVENUE THE NEXT MORNING .IF IT WAS’NT FOR GOD GIVING ME THAT MOMENT OF CLARITY AND LEADING ME TO THE BEACON HOUSE AND THE ROOMS OF A.A. I’D STILL BE LIVING THE MISERY OR MORE LIKELY DEAD. I’M SO GLAD MY LIFE IS DIFFERENT TODAY AND THERE IS FAMILY AND FRIENDS (REAL FRIENDS) TO SHARE CHRISTMAS WITH, I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFULTO GOD, THE BEACON HOUSE, AND THE ROOMS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS FOR THE SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.
STEVEN A. REIMER

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