My name is Minnie Pearl Owens.  I am 58 years old.  I live in Nashville, Tennessee, but I really don't have my own place just yet.  

I am homeless.

Have been homeless ever since my dog of a husband took all my money and done run off with a buxom blonde in her 20's; guess he had enough of me, so he took off and I ended up, penniless and destitute, on the streets.

It's a life I wouldn't wish on my own worst enemy.

I am doing better since my hospital stay back in the beginning of August, but that's only 'cause I am staying at a shelter.  It's nice to have a roof overhead and food in my belly, but I know that it can't last forever; I'll probably end up back on the streets.

 I always do.

I'm praying that I can stay here longer.  I don't relish the thought of sleeping under bridges or in cardboard boxes or scrabbling for food in dumpters or garbage cans; it's no wonder my health is all messed up.  

I gotta call that nice nurse who took such good care of me at the ER and tell her that I'm getting low on my blood pressure medication.  I've already had one stroke (have you ever tried typing with just one hand?? Ain't easy, folks ...) and was on the verge of having another one when I collapsed and ended up in the ER (was eventually admitted and was in the hospital for five days).  The heat got me which was why I ended up in the hospital in the dang first place.

I think about that little black haired nurse with the snapping black eyes.  She was so sweet; even when she stuck me with the IV (twice), she apologized for hurting me and treated me like a person, not a piece of garbage.  I have never forgotten that; I swear she was an angel sent from Heaven.  She had to have been.  I wonder how she is doing; I believe her first name was Louisiana or Louise, something like that.  Anyway, she's been on my mind lately and I want to let her know how much I appreciated all she did for me when I got sick.

Now it is September and cooler weather is soon to come.  I don't like the thought of winter coming; the colder weather makes my legs hurt bad and turn blue.  I know I have bad cirulation; it's a wonder I haven't lost my legs yet.  I know I gotta watch my health but it's hard when y'all don't have the money or the means to do so.  I pray every day to the Good Lord that I don't die; I still have lot of living left to do.  

Well, I just took my morning blood pressure pill and it's one that makes me dizzy, so I gotta lie down and rest.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Minnie Pearl Owens saying so long; may God bless y'all really good!

~Love, your friend, Minnie Pearl.  :)

~To be continued.~