by Stephen Alexander

Created on: February 06, 2011

Alex George awoke from a familiar, recurrent dream. In this dream, Alex lay snug in his former bed, warm and happy. Not since the stroke and attendant disability, which in turn, led to his current state of homelessness, had he felt this cozy familiarity of station. The loss of means had left Alex uprooted, his very existence thrown to the four winds. Before it was over, it would propel him far from the friendly confines of his adopted home.

Over the course of the next few years, Alex would leave San Francisco, relocate to Virginia and move in with his older sister. Subsequently, after a protracted term lasting over two years waiting for the federal government finally to award disability benefits, Alex would move to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, in order to be nearer to his beloved ocean.

For now, however, he was stuck in this interminable circuitous routine of the homeless. In particular, the habitual to the homeless in San Francisco is a mind-numbing circle of concerns involving life’s basics: sustenance, shelter and safety, all of which are of specific concern in a large, expensive city like San Francisco. Of all cities, San Francisco is the least auspicious locale to be without means.

Because of his need to consume something with his usual morning medication regimen, Alex’s thoughts turned toward finding food. This usually entailed finding a grocer who offered pastries or muffins for sale at some insignificant price or one who accepted food stamps. Alex preferred the latter means of payment as cash was at a premium for him of late.

Next, Alex would begin his daily round of securing shelter for the evening. This entailed standing in several seemingly interminable lines, usually concluding with reception of a number and a request to return later. This kind of hurry-up-and-wait scenario is familiar to anyone forced to deal with a bureaucracy. Upon his return, Alex waited in line another hour before the bureaucrat sent him across the street to receive his bed assignment.

This assignation took him across town to a rather seedy side of the city, which brought concern for his safety into play. Alex had spent a lot of time in tough parts of numerous cities so his concern stemmed more from the uncertainty rather than from any specifically identifiable threat. His major concern now was his evening meal.

Food stamps do not allow for the purchase of cooked food. Heaven forbid the state provides previously prepared meals for the poor. Alex would usually

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