Today was a typical Monday for me.  I was not feeling like being at work, what with all the excitement of my book “My Aumakua” being published and all the celebrating we did because of that.  We were pretty slow today which was not a good thing because when it is like that I can hear every second as they pass.  Mid morning, a man walked into the showroom wearing a blanket.  He walked up to the counter where I was and said “Hello sir, I’m sorry to bother you.”  I rolled my eyes, aggravated by what was sure to come next. I stood up and asked “What can I do for you bud?” in a slightly annoyed tone.  In my head I was readying my response for when he asked for some money.  “No, don’t have any money pal, you’re gonna have to move along.” was what I quickly decided to go with so now I just waited for the answer.  “I’m hungry and I don’t know what else to do and I’m very sorry for bothering you.” he said.  I was taken aback and even a little stunned.  I looked over at my coworker and she immediately held up her banana for me to give to him.  He said “thank you” and headed for the door.  I told him to hang on a sec and went and got my lunch and a couple of granola bars.  I brought them out to him and he traded me for the banana peel.  I poured him a cup of water, and he thanked me again and headed right out the door and down the street.  This situation could have gone a number of different ways but I think this was the best way.  This was a very cold reminder of how fortunate I am, many of us are.  His reality is closer than a lot of us think it is.  I’m thankful he was strong enough to come into my place of business and ask for help.  I really needed that.