Okay

I am quiet all morning. Except for one phone conversation I am judge over none but my own thoughts. Time blinks to late morning, finds me grumpy and worrying: my default setting. I bundle up and leave to the market to get food. I turn the corner and see a man wrapped in an old jacket, a hoody underneath and several bags slung over his shoulder walking toward me. His tanned, gritty face is set in defense mode until I smile at him. His eyes raise and he smiles back. He seems as surprised as I am at this change. I continue on and see a group of them outside the mission. For a minute, I veer towards the road planning to cross to the other side and avoid all these troubled men, leathered and exhausted after the long winter on the street. But I do not cross. Instead, I walk right down the middle of the group and there, one lovely young man, standing slightly apart on the street smiles at me:

 "Hey, I like your hat!"

 Now it is my turn. I raise my eyes and smile back at him...

We are all okay.