The Contributor (https://thecontributor.org/category/vendor-writing/page/7/)
Neighborhood Health started with one single office 40 years ago basically to aid the homeless. A lot has changed since it’s opening in the late 70s. The need was greater, they found out, and they extended their services to the poor and even the working poor. Today they have 13 locations scattered throughout Davidson County, Lebanon and Hartsville. The downtown Nashville location has been dubbed “The Homeless Clinic” and it’s well deserved.
On August 3, I’ve been selling The Contributor for 13 years. I love it. On September 3, I’m having surgery on my leg and I don’t know when I’ll be back to sell the paper. It’s been a year since my accident and since the doctors messed up my first surgery. If it was not for my husband, I don’t know what I would do.
I hadn’t seen him since he was nine because he was taken from me and his mother.
If someone doesn’t take the paper when I’m selling it and just try to give me money, it can feel like panhandling. Even if someone comes up and says, “I only have one dollar,” I’ll say, “ok no problem here’s a paper anyway.” You know, just for the fun of it. Then they take the paper anyway because I think it’s that important that they should read it. I don’t want to throw them away if they don’t sell. If I have any old papers, I’ll also keep them around for people who may have missed an issue and want to still read it.
When we reached our final destination, and he went to detach the apparatus from my chair, he was unable to get it off.
As a custom of existing around individuals between the ages of 8 to 88 I realize the way they live is all that they ever known. So, how does one turn off that awful mode? Realistically, survival is the mainstream of living in this dog eat dog world, and it seems like there isn’t any hidden switch. From the highest trusted person to the lowest scum of the earth we all are ran by that switch. There isn’t a person that can’t say that they haven’t been used and or haven’t used someone.
This is my story. My name is Julie B. and I am homeless and have cancer in my brain. I have PTSD and a disability and it is not easy for me. I struggle every day trying to stay alive. My body can not take it for much longer.
I’m sitting here wishing things could be better. My luck here lately has not been good with selling papers. I think my injury might have a lot to do with it. I’m not able to get out there like I used to. I’m so, so sad because I have bills to pay and if I have to have surgery again I don’t know what we’re gonna do.
In my attempt to try new and different things to explore the world around me, I attended the inaugural “Sounds of Nature” event held in the Spring of this year at the Warner Park Nature Center. They hope to host this type of event quarterly — one per season. The next event is scheduled for July 27 from 7:30-9 p.m., It is free to the public, and all you have to do is register to attend online. Rachael Carter who referred to herself as a “naturalist” meaning she “celebrates species of all sorts,” began the session by asking, “How often do we take the time to listen to nature?” Speaking for myself, if I’m honest, I’d have to say almost NEVER! She continued with some relaxation/meditation techniques including a breathing exercise.