What you can buy for $5

Every morning since the construction at 465 and Washington St. caused me to change my route into work (so, what, three months or so now?) I've passed the same homeless man at the same corner, very near the Childrens Museum. And every day like the rural-raised girl who was never exposed to this sort of thing growing up that I am, I politely look the other way or suddenly become engrossed in my cell phone display or whatever else I can do to avoid making eye contact.

Today, though, I happened to look up as he walked by my car while I was stopped at the light, and I was struck by the depth of the hopelessness in his eyes. He had the same appearance as a dog who has been kicked too many times; watchful, wary, suspicious, downtrodden.

I very rarely carry cash, but I happened to have a $5 bill in my wallet this morning. So I rolled down the window and handed it to him. And he smiled, a little of the tightness around his eyes easing. Then the light changed, and I continued on toward my office and he walked back toward his corner to prepare for the next group of commuters to pull up.

I know all the social arguments why I shouldn't have given him the money. I know that I might be contributing to his drug or alcohol problem, etc.

But I didn't really do it for him. I did it for me. How many times do you get to see raw gratitude on someone's face and know that your gesture was appreciated? How many days to you get to go on your way knowing that someone's day was a little easier because of you?

I think $5 was a bargain.