Last summer I had plans to meet my friend for brunch downtown. I parked my car and began to walk to the cafe. As I was rushing to get to her, I made eye contact with a homeless man on the sidewalk. I smiled at him and noticed he was saying something to me. I approached him and told him I couldn’t hear him because of the backhoe that was right behind him. With a not-so-toothy grin he said good morning to me and asked how my day was going. I don’t think he was expecting me to start a conversation with him, but he was very sweet and I enjoyed talking with him. It took less than ten minutes for me to learn he was a veteran. He told me one of his war stories. I felt the horror of it all yet I was still fascinated. After, with a sense of pride and
