February 2017

I meander after being at NOAH (Networking, Organizing, Advocating for Homeless) each week.

This week is because of a young woman named Nicole.

I remembered Nicole from months ago.  I remembered that she had been pregnant. Said she was raped. I asked if she had seen a doc and she said she had.  I asked what she was going to do. She wasn't sure.  

Yesterday, she clearly was not pregnant.  I decided to be direct...hopefully, gently direct...because I genuinely cared.  I asked if she had miscarried or aborted.  

She said neither. She had given the baby up for adoption. It was supposed to be a girl but it was a boy. She knows nothing about the couple except that they live in Bloomfield Hills. She did not get to see or hold the baby. They took him immediately to his new parents. 

I asked her if she was okay. She said she was but it was hard. It was especially hard because she was alone when she had her baby. She is alone now.

I told her that I was sorry. I hugged her.  Several times. I said what she had done sounds soooo hard yet, most likely, soooo loving.  My words were totally inadequate. She knew it. I knew it.  

So, we hugged.  

And I meander.

I meander because I am reminded that while I/we

 join together to carry signs, wave flags,
pray prayers, sing songs,

    MARCH EN MASSE...

....many still simply
limp
along
 alone.