stand up comedy

although the background of the story isn't funny at all, telling the recent developments gets a bucket of laughs, from friends and strangers alike.

today in the hour i spent on the corner, a woman came by to talk. first she pulled up, started to get out of her car, got back in, made a phone call, and then got out and came over to me.

we talked for a long time. we laughed and cried and laughed some more.

it turned out the phone call had been to someone who didn't have the luxury of standing on the streetcorner when it happened to them, who still is afraid to go stand out on the corner.

she thanked me for my courage, for my work. she asked me never to forget that people do notice, and some of them are very grateful.



but when i tell the story of my treatment by this church, this week i am choosing to call it comedy because sometimes sorrow doesn't serve you very well.

and people screech with laughter and disbelief.

no. they didn't!
oh, wait, i tell them. it gets BETTER.
and they howl. we howl together.

we shed a tear or two for the losses, for the silence.

but we laugh where we can find gold.

and this is comedy gold.

this is the gold rush.

see you on the streetcorner.