Another Bench

If you are new to my blog you missed out on reading the beginning of my Homeless in Long Beach story. All of it actually, as I took those posts offline. My game plan was to stay up all night and sleep on the beach during the days. It rained too much and was two cold. Within two weeks I gave up and this bench may have been the first place I slept. I had seen homeless sleeping on the benches along Ocean Blvd. at Bluff park during my homed days. Okay, so I am just one more homeless bum, eh

This was the least popular bench for homeless to sleep on, I discovered. Some nights it was the only one available. I estimate the benches are six feet long. Hard to stretch out with that hump in the middle. I put my backpack to the left, laid on my back, hung my legs over the hump. Some times. Mostly I somehow managed to curl myself in a ball with the bags ~ at first I had two bags ~ and sleep. Or try to. The constant ocean breeze got colder as the night edged towards dawn. Even layered with two or three shirts, sweatshirt, sweatpants over the jeans, long johns under them and a blanket I froze.

Some nights I simply sat knees pulled up to my chest, sweatshirt pulled down over my legs to my ankles. I later found that my up all night plan was not all that original. I would watch people riding on the bike path. I assumed them to be late night workers heading home, say after Yankee Doodles closed for the night. I met many of them. Homeless like me, they were afraid. They simply rode the bike path all night long.

Nice view from the bench. There are four oil drilling islands in the ocean. They are lit up with colored lights at night. Pretty. During the day I could watch the waves. And people on the bike path. The skaters always made me sad for yesterday. And angry.

Notice the lack of people on the beach. Now a misdemeanor crime to smoke a cigarette on the beach? Whose lungs are being damaged by that second hand smoke, I wonder.