Hungry - Please Help - God Bless

Hungry, Please Help, God Bless.

That's what the cardboard sign said.

Should or I shouldn't give him money? Shouldn't I help the less fortunate? Or is my contribution holding him back and helping to create a blight on society?

I didn't think anything like that. My donations usually happen if I am first in line at the red light and within eye contact, my window is already down, and the rare occasion that I actually have cash on my person. The stars didn't line up for this guy today.

Something I do notice on these roadside executives is their shoes. There they are with their rumpled hair, unshaven faces, clothing that looks like it's been rolled in soot, holding their pleading cardboard sign - and some of them wear offensively expensive shoes. I have visions of their mornings in their penthouse apartments, packing their brief cases with cardboard and markers, and saying; "I can't shave today. I have to go to work. Honey, where is my dirty white shirt?"

Today's freeway off-ramp denison didn't have the good fortune of top of the line shoes. I do wonder where he got the cardboard. If I needed a sign today, I would be hard pressed to find any cardboard and you can just forget about the marker. These guys always seem stocked up. The signs don't look beaten or torn. They look like they were freshly drawn this morning. I wonder what the margins are after cardboard and marker expense.

Then there is the 'God Bless'. He's standing on the side of the road begging for my hard earned money and he's asking God to bless me? I'll ask for my own blessings, thank you.

The signs are unoriginal although there are slight variations. One of my favorites - Will work for money. I wonder what their rehearsed response is when someone actually offers them a job.

The best sign I have seen was on Fremont St. in Las Vegas. The sign said; "Please help. I need a drink." That made me smile. I gave him money.