Moving on up

I had a neat conversation with one of my favorite people at the Center.

She showed me a purse and asked me what I thought. Since I have been married for 20 plus years, I knew that I had better like it even if it looked like any other black purse I had ever seen in my entire life. It's not that I don't like purses, I just don't pay attention to this kind of stuff at all.

After she received the compliment, she proudly told me that she paid for the purse. It was bought at the Thrift Store for something like $4, but she was so proud that she actually bought it with her own money. It was not a handout and that meant a lot to her.

The told me her first step up the ladder was when she quit using a backpack. When you are homeless, you need to keep as much stuff with you as possible.
Once the backpack was gone, she used a purse that either was given to her or one that she found somewhere.
Now, she has a job (actually, her and her husband have started a business), a room and now can actually purchase something and not rely on handouts. Her and her husband are really neat people.
The lesson here - One step at a time - keep movin on up.