Homeless for 68 Minutes by, Kalhan Rosenblatt

     This week's reading was very interesting and unlike the other stories we have read so far. I have never thought of what it would be like to be a panhandler, like the author I would have assumed it was pretty easy to just ask for money. People asking you extremely personal questions and most likely giving you judgmental looks would be pretty tough to deal with. Especially creepy people like the Creole man asking you if you had a girlfriend/boyfriend like he was thinking she could be his girlfriend or something weird. Before reading this story, I had never thought that the life of a panhandler could be potentially dangerous but it definitely is because you are out there all alone with no one to have your back and especially the police because they might try to run you off or even worse arrest you. 

     This story has definitely opened my eyes to the potential dangers of being homeless. I will definitely think twice when I debate whether giving money to the next homeless person I come across because they're life is definitely tougher and more dangerous than mine. The big stereotype about giving money to homeless people is that they will just buy alcohol or drugs with it, but who am I to judge them and decide what they will do with the money. Some people actually come across some really bad luck and can't afford a simple Big Mac so why not help them out by giving a few dollars when I have plenty to spare.