Turf war

It snowed here a few days ago and today it was still pretty cold. As I pulled up to the east side location, for the first time there was no one on the sidewalk. I ran in to one lady and she told me the people were all scattered because it was cold out and I would have to drive around to find people. I told her about what we were doing, and she told me she would help "drum up some business", so she just started yelling at a few guys who were walking a block away. One of them came over and I was talking to him for a few minutes. He was clearly troubled in some way, or on crack, and his conversation didn't make much sense. When he started getting upset, I told him to have a nice day then I turned around and got back to my car as he started yelling louder and louder. I have mentioned before that this is not really the safest part of town.

When I got back in my car, another car sped up from behind and pulled along side me. I rolled down my window but the guy and girl in the car just stared at me without rolling down their window. I asked them if they had lunch yet, and offered them both something to eat. I was a little scared because I knew I was on his turf, and I was also sure that he had more guns in the car than I did (I don't carry a gun). The tension broke, the girl laughed, the guy smiled, they rolled down their window, and told me they had already had lunch.

I have been scared before, and I was certainly scared then, but thinking back, it is freaking amazing that when I offered him a lunch, everything was cool. We were just two people. He was not a drug dealer protecting his turf, and I was not a scared white boy. We were equal for that akward moment when our lives intersected. I don't get it, food is magic peace potion. The tagline (the one in the banner at the top of the page) became true today.

In other news, I found a new community to get to know, and that is why I have started asking for help. I need more poeple who believe in this vision to step up and get started. SO, I have a favor to ask you...please tell others about the website. Put a link on your page. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell them I need help. Tell them they don't need to raise their own money. I just need their time. I will help them get started and get comfortable. Unfortunately, I can't issue guns to any volunteers, Free Lunch policy states that you must serve lunch at your own risk.