The Tale of a Homeless Man and a piece of cheese.

So for those of you ( that don't read this blog) that don't know, I got a new job! I am the Video Editor for Piedmont Healthcare. I am basically the video editor for a hospital system in Atlanta, GA. ( if you want an idea what we do : http://www.healthwatchmd.com )

Anywho, this post isn't about the inner workings of the video editor for Piedmont Healthcare, its about a homeless man and a piece of cheese.

My new job is located in Buckhead. ( a neighborhood of ATL) Across the street from my office building there are several lunch options including: Chick Fila, Subway, Jimmy Johns, Wendy's and a few others. I periodically go to some of the establishments for lunch to change things up, or if Keri doesn't make me a sandwich. ( thanks babe! ) So here begins the tale of the Homeless Man and a piece of cheese.


So to get to these restaurants you have to cross a pretty busy road. There is a decent wait at the stop light to cross the street. I like to take that time to reflect on things I am doing at work, things I need to do in life or just generally take in the environment around me. Standing on the corner of Peachtree / Collier road I was taking in my surrounds, from watching the steady stream of fancy Buckhead luxury cars to steady stream of Piedmont employes walking around in different color scrubs. Slowly panning my head back and forth looking at things, I saw a man sitting in the shadow of a massive dumpster next to Chic Fila. He would say things to people as they past and generally people were ignoring him, but some gave him a weird expression and two nurses started laughing when they past him.

When the light changed to let me cross the street I made a b-line for other side of the street, keeping my eyes on the shadow man. As I got closer I realized that this man was homeless. I still couldn't hear him but when he looked at me, he realized I was looking at him. When I came up parallel to him he locked eyes with me and screamed : " Bitch!! Give me a piece of CHEESE!!!"...

Not breaking stride I continued on into subway. I decided to get a foot long sweet onion chicken teriyaki sub.( one of the best ) When I got the cheese part of my sub, I hesitated with my order. I wasn't sure if the homeless man was sick, hungry, drunk or just in the need of a piece of cheese. I decided to indulge his request and ordered extra pepper jack for my sandwich with the extra on the side. After picking up my chips, drink and paying for the meal I headed to a table to put my cheese gift on a napkin. My meal in my left hand, my cheese gift stacked amazingly on a napkin in my right ( presentation is everything ), I headed for the door.

I was trying not to laugh at the site of me walking down a busy sidewalk carrying a sandwich, chips and a soda precariously in one hand and cheese in the other. I thought I saw some people giving me some strange looks, but I was on a mission....with cheese.

As I rounded the edge of the building walking towards the dumpster, the shadow man was still yelling at people. My approach caused him to halt in the middle of his routine and he looked at me.

this was our conversation.

"Bitch!!!....... ( I offered him the cheese ).....you brought me cheese??"

(me)" Yes sir. Didn't you say you wanted a piece of cheese? "

( he took the cheese )

" Yeah, I didn't think anyone would do it. I just got tired of asking for money..What kind is it? "

(me) " Pepper jack."

" Oh shit, that's whats up wit cheese!"

(me)  " Yep. Its the best of all the cheeses."

" Hey man...( cheese bite )  can you spare some change?"

(me) "sorry sir, I spend my last change of the extra cheese.."

" Damn! Ain't that a bitch...ah well. Bless you....(looking at other bystanders while eating the last of the cheese ) Hey Bitch!!! Give me some change! I need to wash down my cheese!! "


So remember kids, not all homeless people want money. Sometimes they just want some cheese...