A week ago last night I spent my 4th night in a row wandering the streets without sleep. Friends told me I looked terrible. They said I needed to change. But I was determined to do homelessness MY way.
Since I wouldn’t listen to my friends, my body spoke up.
I sleepwalked around the streets of Downtown, leaving my backpack behind. When I came back to where I left it,, it was gone. I lost my MacBook Air and my iPhone and Apple Watch chargers.
I am not in a great place right now., this morning. I am bored and lonely. But compared to where I was a week ago, I guess I really have made substantial progress.
– I’ve checked into the Union Mission at 383 Poplar for the past 7 nights, getting no less than 8 hours sleep a night. No more falling asleep at bars or other locations not meant for sleep.
– By the end of this week I will have a replacement MacBook, thanks to a high school friend,, and debit cards connected to Venmo and Ally Bank accounts. I also got Apple Pay set up on my phone and it was usable immediately, no waiting on a debit card, which has been a lifesaver.
– I’ve eaten at least one meal, often two, every day of the past seven.
– I’ve gotten a haircut and bought some razors so I don’t have to look homeless.
– Friends gave me a new backpack, iPhone charger, and Apple Watch charger.
Okay. Let me describe a typical day in my life as of last week, in order to help you understand a challenge I will face this week Imagine it’s the middle of the week, like a Wednesday or a Thursday:
– 6 am: The lights come on at the Union Mission men’s dorm and we’re told it’s time to get up. By 6:15 I’ve deposited last night’s sheets in the laundry basket and brushed my teeth.
– Breakfast is included in the price of admission but it’s usually a bowl of corn flakes in milk. Yuck. I hate milk. I usually skip breakfast unless I hear we’re having something particularly good, like donuts. By 6:45 I’m usually out on the street, unless it’s raining hard.
– The Mission does not offer Wi-Fi to its guests, which makes my time away from the Mission extremely valuable. From 7 to 8 am I generally walk Main Street, connecting to known Wi-Fi networks when I can, answering texts and PMs, checking email, Facebook notifications, and balances on my Ally Bank account, Venmo, and a Apple Pay.
– Bardog opens at 8 and I’ll use their Wi-Fi over breakfast or a drink.
– The Cossitt Library opens at 10 and I go over there and use their Wi-Fi. Some days I stay there until 1 pm; other days I’ll move on at 11 to Westy’s or Memphis Chess Club or some other restaurant with Wi-Fi.
– About 1 pm I head back to the Mission, and that’s the END of my Wi-Fi access for the day. Why 1 pm? Because a night at the Mission is FREE if you get checked in before 2 pm. I ain’t paying no six dolla for something I can get for free! It’s about a 20 minutes to walk from the Downtown core to the Mission and the wait in line takes up to 20 minutes.
– Until 5 pm: Watch TV, sign up to take a shower. By the way, we have private shower stalls It’s not like prison. I don’t have to worry about dropping the soap.
– 5 pm: Dinner. It’s often 5:20 before I get through the line and get my food and a seat.
– 6 pm: Chapel. Most days it lasts a full hour.
– 7 pm:: More Tv watching, another opportunity for the shower line.
– 8 pm: We’re given the chance to go to the dorm and get in bed. Alternatively, we can stay up until 10, but I always choose the 2 hours’ extra sleep.
So there you have it. As I stressed, the schedule makes every moment I have on Wi-Fi precious.
On a side note, I did ask the supervisors at the Mission why they don’t provide Wi-Fi for guests. They said it was partly a bandwidth issue – with up to 300 men on the same line, the connection would be horribly slow. Then there was also a concern that some of the men would use the connection to watch some not-so-wholesome content, if you know what I mean!
So here I am, proud owner of a new backpack. But, I can’t bring it inside the main Mission building. I have to put the items I need in a clear plastic bag and leave the backpack in bag check. The supervisors have a very good reason for that rule, too. It prevents people from sneaking weapons and bottles of liquor in. Totally understandable.
But here’s the thing
I’ve been told that the bag check opens at 9 am.
If that’s true, by the time I stand in line, get my bag, and walk to the Downtown core, it’ll be about 9:45. 40% of my Wi-Fi time for the day and 87.5% of my Bardog time for the day will be gone.
This will take some figuring out.
I admit it’s a smaller problem than not knowing where I’m gonna eat tonight, or where I’m gonna sleep tonight, both problems soled by the Mission.
But I don’t see how I’m supposed to expedite my way to a better place in life when I have to spend 20-21 hours a day at the shelter or in transit to/from there.
On to the news…
Good news: Penny’s Memphis Tigers looked like a cohesive team yesterday. They whooped up on Tulane 90-78 and improved to 18-6.
Bad news: As of yesterday the Tigers were in Next Four Out land in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology. They have work to do. Those two upcoming dates with ranked FAU are gonna be critical.
The NBA All-Star dunk and three-point contests are Saturday and the game is Sunday
Calvary Episcopal Church’s outstanding Waffle Shop opens for the season this Thursday, February 15 and will be open for lunch 11:00-1:30 WThF during Lent. Check out the Lenten Preaching Series too.
Today is National Poop Day.
Springhill Suites seeks a bartender .
The Grizzlies host New Orleans tonight at 7 at FedExForum. First 5000 fans get a Derrick Rose travel chess set. TV: Bally Sports
It may snow this evening but temperatures are expected to remain slightly above freezing.
That’s all I have time to write. Back tomorrow.
Readers’ generosity helps keep this blog afloat. Donations:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@gmail.com
Apologies for typos, doing this on my phone.
