By David W. Edgerly, Ph.D.
Copyright 1999. Compliments of www.untaming.com/archive15.html
Recently we went to New Orleans for Chelona to lead a workshop. We had the pleasure of staying in the French Quarter. This is a district of good food, great music, and wild partying and ultimate decadence. People wandering the streets drinking, laughing, and flashing.
The sides of the streets are lined with poor street entertainers/beggars. Sadly, 80% are children age 5-11. Many tap dance and a few have already mastered the art of the mime.
One day we were walking along one of the streets and watched a 9-year-old, coated in mime paint, covering his 7-year-old brother in paint. They had their personal cardboard boxes to place in front of themselves in hopes of donations of nickels, dimes, quarters, and maybe the lucky dollar bill.
We eventually migrated back to our hotel. Chelona was ill and didn't feel like going out to eat (a real shame in New Orleans) and suggested I walk the mile down to McDonalds and get burgers to bring back for us.
In line for burgers in front of me were the 7 and 9-year-old mimes. The 7-year-old ordered a simple hamburger and two milks. He paid for his meal and then his 9-year-old brother ordered the same, a basic hamburger and two milks. The 9-year-old came up 2 cents short and the counter worker said he would have to give up one of his items. He turned to his brother who rummaged through his pockets and came up with 7 pennies, which he handed to his older brother. The 9-year-old gave the 2 cents to the counter worker. After getting his order he looked at the five pennies in his hand, looked at the container for donations to the Ronald McDonald House to help children with cancer, thought for a long time and then slipped his only 5 pennies into the container.
I reached into my pocket for money to pay for their meal but before my hand was out of my pocket they were gone.
I wish I had put more money in the various boxes of street people. Happy holidays.
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