I always like to sit facing the door, and watch the myriad of activity of people eating, being served, food being brought-in, food being put into plastic bags for 'take-out'. Average folks, some very poor, some more wealthy. No-one very wealthy.
One gentlemen started to get up from his wooden bench after finishing his lunch. He reached down and picked-up a krutch, hand made with pieces of wood. He rose up, and began hobbling out of the restaurant. His left leg was twisted, almost like a pretzel. I felt my eyes swell with tears. I am crying as I write this.
Most of the time I can kind of shut out the poverty, the need. Aggressive beggars are easiest to shut out. People with no legs, no fingers, on the edge of the road with tin cans, not asking for money, but beaming a big smile and saying 'hello' are the hardest. Or dirty women carrying emaciated babies coming up to the car window with their tin cans and desperation in their eyes...........that is also hard.
I wish that I could make it all go away.