My name is Pigeon.  Never mind my real name.  I go by Pigeon and that's it.

I am homeless.  I have been homeless ever since coming back from the first Gulf War.  Couldn't afford to pay my rent or my bills, so the landlord threw me out on my ear and I've been livin' here in the mean streets ever since.

It's a life not for the faint of heart.  I wouldn't recommend it.  People treat you like crap; they'd rather spit on you or stare like you got horns comin' outta your head or something.  You also have to fight with other bums to find a place to sleep or stay at if the weather is bad; if the weather is bad, then we often end up sleeping under a bridge or in an alleyway, out of the rain, wind, or snow.  

It's a horrible way to live.

I live on the streets here in Fort Worth, Texas.  I'm a Veteran, but one wouldn't know it 'less I told ya my story.  I'm sorry; we who fought the war deserve far better treatment than what we been getting from the gol'dang government!  It's like they are telling us, "Welcome home, now get out of our face!"  It's nasty!

I have made some friends here, but most like me, are in the same boat I am.  I've also met some who were homeless at one time, but lady luck visited 'em and now they are livin' high on the hog: they have jobs or a place of their own, and I can't help but get jealous of 'em.  They do leave us some money or food; Medusa Jones and Snaggle Tooth Annie (Pelham) come to mind ... I remember seeing 'em here on the streets at one time, but as I said, lady luck came calling and they are no longer homeless.  Well bully for 'em!  

I just wish something like that would happen to me or my friends!  I hate this life!  All I got to keep me company are my bum friends or the pigeons who sleep with me.  I also feed 'em; I call 'em my pets.  It's no wonder people call me Pigeon 'cause my bestest pals are pigeons.  Even named some of 'em, too: Petey, Paulie, Fatty, Orbie, and Tagalong, to name a few.  I see 'em just about every day.  Whenever I get some food I share some of it with the pigeons and they are always very happy to see me.  Well, the feelin's mutual.

Well, I hate to go, but it's too dang hot out (sun is warm) and the  wind is makin' me cough, so I'll try to find something to hide in out of the wind and sun and take me a nice, long nap.  Ain't got nothin' better to do .... I will write in here again soon; take care!

~Pigeon.  :(