Salvation Army Veteran

I've been shy, trying to figure out how to break the ice and write my first ever blog post. I guess now that I have an ipod, a flat screen TV, and now officially a blog, the only thing left in my modernization is to learn to text message.

I figure that for the most part I don't have anything of particular interest to say, so maybe just a good old story will suffice.

For those that know me, you will also know that I am not a big fan of Christmas. I won't digress to elaborate at this point, but a recent event rekindled my anti-love of the season - I went to Smith's Market Place here in Salt Lake to get my fix of antacids and diet Dr. Pepper, only to be met at the door by a vagrant. He looked to be about 40 years old, nice crusty clothes, a 3+ day of facial hair growth, and the grimy suitcase to complete the set. As I walked past he asked gruffly for change, "hey dude, got any change?" I politely responded (honestly), "I don't carry cash." To which he backlashed, "that's bullsh** man, you're so full of sh**, that's the worst fu**@$#" excuse I've ever heard!"

Fantastic. What else can I say. I almost turned around to respond, but a women was on her way out of the store where she had just donated her spare change to the salvation army guy inside. Again he demanded, "hey lady, got any cash?" To which she responded (honestly), "I just gave it to the salvation army guy inside." His rebutle? "Fu*&#! bi$^#, what the hell did you do that for? I'm a salvation army vet!! And it's christmas, you should give it to me you damn hore!"

Fantastic. What else can I say. The fact that the commercialization of Christmas has penetrated to the lowest levels that even the vagrants EXPECT to get extra this time of year just reminds me how far from the truth we really are. Not to mention getting cussed out for not giving.

Maybe I will take pictures next time...