Compliments
“What a good looking dog!”
“What a handsome dog!”
“A muy guapo el perro!”
Three compliments on Elmer's appearance uttered by homeless people we encountered in the park during the course of five days.
The first said by a 70-something man pushing a baby stroller full of cans and bottles and wearing a backpack/bedroll.
The second said by a homeless woman in her 60s standing to the side of a kid's bicycle strapped down with her life's possessions.
The third said by a homeless Latino man in hi 60s who emerged from behind a cedar tree dragging a bag of cans and wearing a frame pack.
At each meeting, I said “good morning,” the person responded in kind, and then delivered the compliment.
The sight of homeless people in their 60s/70s (even 80s) used to brace me. It doesn't anymore. It's now a regular occurrence in my neighborhood and these men and women are almost entirely new to me and then I never see them again.
How did they get here? Where are they going?
I've read countless articles documenting the phenomenon of America's elderly homeless (and their increasing numbers) but it's something quite extraordinary when you meet them face to face at six in the morning while traversing one of Portland's most affluent neighborhoods and these destitute people say something nice about your dog as they struggle to survive.
Dogs can do this for people. They often elicit better humanity in humans than other humans do.
I always say “thank you” for the compliment and Elmer always remains motionless during these encounters.