Things I see while riding/things I see while running: a dollar thrown

Lately, in the afternoon, I set aside my keyboard, don my running shoes, and head out to the marina to work my legs.  When I went yesterday, I witnessed a man nearly killed for a dollar.

On my run out to the marina I cross the 90 freeway via Mindanao.  60mph traffic both directions is interrupted by a light every 60 seconds, and runners, walkers, bikers and motorists cross.

There’s a homeless man who walks the shoulder where southbound traffic hits the light.  He holds a cardboard sign soliciting donations, the cliche picture of urban homelessness.

So, yesterday I run up, shirtless in short shorts.  I watch as a woman reaches across to the passenger side of her car to hold a dollar out the window to the man.  She has left room to roll forward to the stop line, so instead of waiting for him to take the dollar, she rolls forward at 2mph toward the stop line.  He runs alongside, adopting an awkward trot with a little kid’s bounce in contrast to his 6′3″ frame, all the while trying to grab the dollar.

This goes on, and then the light turns green, and he keeps failing to get the dollar out of her hand as she keeps driving forward slowly.  After about 2 seconds of the light being green, she chucks the dollar out the window, and speeds off, running over the dollar, and nearly clobbering the man.  He bends down to pick up a dollar as three more cars drive within inches of his head.

He does this everyday.

I’ve got seven one dollar coins that sit here unused day after day, because I can’t wrap my head around using dollar coins.  I’m going running right now, and when I get to his spot, the coins are his.  And I’m not going to nearly kill him in the process.  Instead, I’m going to shake his hand.