Well, my official start date for my internship is tomorrow (May 1st), but I've been there everyday since I finished exams. Cheques came out on Monday so things have been quiet this past week. The streets were practically empty on Monday and Tuesday, and drop-in today was peaceful. Last Thursday was a different story. A good friend, GS. was really drunk and hurting, out in the park yelling about the abuse he experienced as a child, and trying to initiate fights people sidewalk passersby. There is a real battle going on inside of him, and as a friend commented, the outcome will either be miraculous or devastating. GS. is going to choose one path or the other, and I pray he chooses the narrow one. I had a chat over some fries with him on Tuesday, and he articulated his Jeckyl/Hyde predicament with immense clarity. He keeps fluctuating between being a wonderful beautiful man struggling with his faith and his past, and a wonderful beautiful man who is drunk and angry and wants to fight. Both sides of his personality are beautiful valuable people, but in my opinion, only one is his true self.

Among the few people that were out on the street on Tuesday was a woman on the corner of sherbourne and gerrard shivering wearing shorts and flip flops, crouched down and wrapped extensively in yellow caution tape. Her hair looked like it was glued to her head and face and she was crouched and mumbling. People with Psych issues are absolutely without a doubt the most difficult reality for me to face on the street. Doug leaned over and asked how she was and if she wanted some sock or water. She responded with an F- you and threw her cigarette in his face and spat on him. My heart hurts for her… honestly the only thing I think anyone can do for her is pray.