A short story about a reunion between a homeless man and his daughter
W
hile waiting for the airplane to arrive, I wondered why my Dad, wanted to come to Florida. My father had abandoned my family when I was five years old. Years later, he was diagnosed with a mental illness and institutionalized for many years.... But he was later released on his own and disappeared into the bowels of New York ....to live as one of the homeless. During my younger years, my mother would take us to visit my Dad in the institution. My memories were vivid...of the dungeon-like rooms and the depressing concrete walls and bars that outfitted this ancient dilapidated
mental institution. I couldn’t understand at this tender age of eight what my Dad was doing there. My heart would cry out to him, “Come home...come home, Dad”. “Why do you want to stay here”? “Come home and stay with your family that loves you”. But I was too young to understand why he shut himself from his family and the world....until now. I lost track of my Dad through the years until one day, I received a call from a Nun, Sister Angela, who worked with the homeless in New York. “Sam Shabel is
T Homeless Voice Prayer List
• Cathy • Ginny • Violet
If you have read these names please say a short prayer. Call 954-410-6275 to add a name. No monetary donations needed
How’s My Vending? Call (954)
925-6466 X101
your Dad”, she asked? “Yes”, I replied. “Is he okay”? “Your Dad needs money”, Sister Angela said. “He would appreciate if you could spare some money for him.” I didn’t hesitate...money would be sent to her immediately. I was happy to hear that my father was alive and a feeling of love and warmth enveloped me. But the word Dad was strange to me...I hadn’t spoken that word in years. I did not really know my Dad but there was always a feeling of kinship for this man...I always felt a bond with him....my father.
his month ABC had a special of what could happen to you at restaurants if you complain about your food and service. The TV show also talked about how leftover butter on your table may be recycled and put in another product. One restaurant chef said he had worked at restaurants in the past and after they remove the used butter from your table and even when people put their cigarette out after they use the butter dish for an ash tray that is used as well after they remove the cigarettes. Your leftover bread may end up being used as bread crumbs. Eating out can be a dangerous situation. Robert Levin a long term cook for almost 40
“Sam Shabel is your Dad”, she asked?
While discussing the situation with Sister Angela, I quickly suggested another alternative. “How would my Dad like to live in Florida? The weather is nicer than New
years, said "It was common practice to mess with someone’s food after they complained how it was cooked, "I recommend not to eat what you don't like and ask for a credit and not to have the food re cooked." When Richard came to our shelter he was put in charge of the kitchen where he had said many times that the COSAC Shelter Kitchen was cleaner then some of the restaurants where he has worked. Sometimes when Richard became a clean freak at the restaurants he worked he would be fired for trying to get them to keep a clean kitchen. Keeping a clean kitchen can cost a restaurant another $1500 a (Continued on page 7)
You can get a copy of this book by going to www.publishamerica.com. In the upcoming months you will be able to go to other web sites such as Barnes and Noble.
York and I could arrange for a beautiful place for him to live”. Sister Angela thought the idea was a wonderful one...one less (Continued on page 6)