only in america

So on Thursday I am making my way to the train -- headed to the new job with the nice people and the work i'm still not 100% hooked on.
so i grab a seat (so far, so good i always get a seat)...
and i notice a man in a seat opposite and to the right of me.
he's wearing a gray hoody pulled closely over his face, slightly bent over and shaking a bit.
i also notice that the bottoms of his leg (his pants legs are folded up to his knees) are HUGE.
and when i say HUGE -- i don't mean fat...i mean elephantitis or genetic disorder HUGE. in other words the man has some definite medical problems.
he's also carrying a sign that says "needy, please help".
next thing you know i'm deep into "feeling sorry" for this man.
in my mind he is now the poster child for pitiful (as in to feel sorry FOR not sorry you Met) .
i wonder if he has ever seen a doctor ...if he was abused as a child....how everyone deserves dignity...can he walk (it has to hurt -- plus his only footwear are those things you probably get from the doctor -- a flat piece of material with a strap going across the top of the foot --- sortof a naked sandal)...anyway...i'm thinking about how we're all sitting here with our ipods and cell phones...and wearing our nice work clothes..coming from our nice homes..headed to our jobs..and he's sitting there -- rocking back and forth -- practically invisible.
we should all be ashamed!
but what can i do?
well, at least i could offer the man my breakfast.
so, i go in my tote...and i dig around looking for the bacon and egg sandwich i threw together and put in a plastic baggie.
and i dig...
and i dig.,..
until my digging produces the memory of me putting the sandwich on the kitchen counter...
and leaving it there.
score zero for me as hero to the homeless...
so i'm starting to tear up and wonder if this man will be riding the train all day...will he be there tomorrow...is someone going to lose their grip on the pole and step on his big feet.
and so it goes until my stop.
i get off..and get on with my day...
thinking -- here and there -- about this man...
and near the end of the day...things get busy...
then get crazy...
'poor man on the train' now pushed to the back of my mind.
finally...it's 7p and i walk out the door...
put on my ipod....
head to the corner...
dig around for my cell phone as i cross the street...
a block earlier than usual i might add...
as i comingle with rest of the evening's going-home-ers...
i glance in the shop windows...
the stationary store...
the chocolatier....
the place with the tables facing the window...
and sitting there scribbling in his notebook....
with his naked sandals...
is the man from the train...
sitting there...at a table ...
by himself...
looking way less needy than on the train
there he sits....
IN STARBUCKS!
Only in America people! Only in America!