I’ve been struggling a lot with the topic of homelessness. We had two people living in our office backyard. At first, we let them stay, but then people put thoughts in our minds that scared us, and then there was some type of assault. We couldn’t have that on our property.
So now here we are today.
I decided to disconnect for 24 hours – no phone, no computer, and no people.
The things that are allowed during this time – read, exercise and watch tv on a traditional tv. I mostly read and enjoyed the peace.
I started at 4pm on Saturday and decided to finish a book I have been reading – the book about Margaret. This book is about a homeless person in Hamilton.
I’ve struggled with the solution to homelessness for years, I think many have.
At 8pm, I was reading and then read one thing – Margaret had died. I knew this had happened, as they mentioned it in the beginning of the book. But then, the next part just broke me.
I read that no one went to her funeral because no one knew about it.
And that’s when I started to cry.
No one said goodbye to her.
It was like she meant nothing and that,
broke my heart.
I stopped reading there and I cried. Maybe for 20 minutes.
What if that was me or you or someone we loved. And they were buried with no one at least saying goodbye to them.
Telling them that their life mattered.
And as I sit here and write this, I cry for every single person that has experienced this.
At least someone should say goodbye and that you mattered and that your life means something.
Thank you to the author of this book for sharing this story. I knew about the book years ago but with the mba, I slowly read now.
I don’t know how to solve the problem. I know people have tried.
And if I knew how to I would, but I don’t. Maybe, it’s housing. Maybe, it’s early learning.
I know people are trying.
But I am sorry I didn’t do more. Or that I do more.
You deserved so much more from this world.
I will not forget your story.
Your life meant something.
Now we are here, to 456pm on Sunday, 24 hours later – no phone, no computer, no people.
I am grateful every day for my blessings and that I live a very rich life, but I know that could have been me, or you, or someone we love.
I don’t know what to do going forward, but I hope you know I have been trying, and I will continue to try, probably until the day I die.
samantha mercanti 
Great post Story too sad breaks my heart too that she had no one
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In such a busy, hectic world, it’s good to unplug every now and then and take time for yourself. We don’t do that for ourselves enough and often forget to “put on our oxygen mask first” otherwise, we will not be of help to anyone else.
Margaret’s story is a sad one that unfortunaty happens too often. I celebrate all the Margarets out there whose stories went untold, whose voices were never heard. We have to do better for homelessness in our communities and nation as a whole.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Andrea, yes definitely I recommend disconnecting, and yes we need to do better.
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Samantha, a great post and thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts. Yes, the homeless issues is a big thing in our community and I care the same way you do for some of these people. Let’s keep on trying to help find a solution, so that some of these people do not end up like Margaret with no one showing up at their funeral to say goodbye.
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Samantha, the book, “Her Name Was Margaret” was written by a friend of mine, Denise Davy, former Hamilton Spectator writer, and I laughed out loud sometimes and I was brought to tears, like you. I bought many copies to give away and make people aware of the difficult situation for many.
A mighty group of volunteer women started fundraising, in Margaret’s honour, to help homeless women. Through these efforts of donating purses, filled with all kinds of things that anyone needs like toothpaste and toothbrushes and feminine products, Margaret’s memory is kept alive and she is greatly cherished by many who never knew her but want to help. Thank you for highlighting that memories of people are precious! Everyone needs to be treated with dignity and respect. We all deserve love.
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I completely agree, we sometimes forget that just because we got lucky, that we aren’t responsible for at least giving respect and dignity to other people around us.
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You’re absolutely right Samantha! Everyone is deserving of dignity and respect. We owe it to our society and all the people in it to treat people this way.
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