When the weather is warm, I stay out on the park benches on the Main Street Mall about half the nights. The other half I spend sleeping in the Memphis Union Mission.
Back in April-May, I’d see a man out walking in the 5 AM hour. I could set my watch by him. It was good to see him. His presence was an indicator I’d survived another night on Downtown’s streets, and that morning had arrived.
Then one day, something interesting happened. As the man walked by, he placed a package of vanilla Mini Muffins on the park bench next to me.
The next day, it was Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies.
The day after that, mini Oreos.
The next day, peanut butter Grandma’s cookies.
This morning, the Mini Muffins were back.
It isn’t just me. Each person out on the pedestrian mall at that hour gets a mini-sized snack bag with an uplifting note stapled to it.
Cheers to the breakfast snackman. He gives people who don’t have much to look forward to, something to look forward to.
Phone update: It looks like a friend is going to add me to her family cell plan. If that happens, I will not only get a new phone, but for the first time in a couple of years I’ll have REAL cell service.
Back soon with more news.
I gratefully accept tips:
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com