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I just popped out to my local Sainsbury's 'Metro' / petrol station combo.
I parked just by the cash dispenser and as i was getting out of me' motor i noticed a woman probably in her 50s, slowly approaching the cash machine as someone was withdrawing money. I heard the old woman basically asking the guy if he had any spare change. I've seen the same woman a few times before at the exact same spot, she's even approached me in the past.
Obviously the woman's begging, but it seemed a bit different to the normal beggar scenario.
For a start, she didn't look like she was homeless, she wasn't dressed at all extravagantly, but was hardly dressed like your average beggar. She spoke to me fairly politely (which if anything made the whole scenario seem even sadder) and came across as an ordinary person, she looked like she could easily be someone's mum. She had on a coat and always seems to carry a handbag, and looks like she's popping out to the shops herself.

I don;t know why but I just found it quite sad, more so than with your average beggar who i wouldn't give a second thought to.
Is this woman simply very poor and had lost all dignity? (where i live there aren't really any beggars and i wouldn't call it a 'poor' area where i live at all) she didn't strike me as the kind of person who might be involved in drugs or anything like that.
Like i said, the woman could have been in her 50's, maybe older.

When i say 'sad' i don't mean it in the way its often used as a put down ie. "your so sad.." but more in the upsetting way.

Maybe because of what you said "she could be someones mum" ....beggars/homeless arent usually in contact with their family, she could be struggling to pay for her kids..

I've come across 2 similar type people in the main Precinct of Adelaide

They were both better dressed than I and
looked healthy enough

Wether they are mentally there is another thing

There is a growing problem with other things like Gambling for instance

I've seen well to do professionals gamble away everything and literally self destruct from the inside out

After all the assets are gone the family has broken up whats left but depression and despair.The ones I know don't turn to drugs but neither do they try and reintegrate back into society

I guess if i were too lose everything I have worked for over the years in an instant I might 'give up'.

Depression is the sleeping giant in society IMHO

cheers
B....OZ

Sounds a sad situation. It's hard to think of what's best to do in the circumstances.
But don't describe a person in their 50's as old.

Mart

THANKYOU !
Not dead yet.............

You nasty little man.
I have left a nice big brown steaming present in your garden.
Hope your love-apples drop off and your pork sword develops BSE.

Quite right Mart

Old Age starts when you stop moving

I know some guys in their Sixties who are more active than many in their twenties.

The fifties is part of middle age if the average life expectancy figures of 68(males) & 72(females) are anything to go by

Maybe 'one foot in the grave' rather than old would be a fairer statement

Would that be politically correct?

cheers
B....OZ

Dunno, but I doubt it would be a naturally tenable position, unless you were a gymnast.

All of us in that middle age bracket(30-60) do it without even knowing until we have our...mid life crisis

So if I become more flexible it shouldn't be a problem?

cheers
B....OZ