This past weekend my family and I went into the City to see Molière’s play Scapin. Bill Irwin starred, directed, and adapted the play. You may remember Bill Irwin as Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street, but he was also a star of the Pickle Family Circus and is very accomplished in clowning and physical humor. Fellow clowner from the Pickle Family Circus, Geoff Hoyle, was also in the play. I have seen Geoff Hoyle in several one-man shows and he is a very talented comedian of physical humor as well.

We took the train into the City as we always do for such events, which affords us the opportunity to walk through part of downtown San Francisco. After the play, we were standing on the corner deciding which way to go, when a panhandler decided to help us by pointing out an Indian restaurant that was down the block. We thanked him and he asked for a couple of dollars so he could buy a hamburger at the Burger King across the street. I am always willing to give or buy food for those who are hungry, so we offered to take him across the street and buy him a burger. Clearly, this response was unanticipated, as he stammered in search for a reason for why he needed just the money. It didn’t help that his thought process was clearly impaired by another substance. Finally, he showed us a handful of change and said that all he needed was a dollar to cover the remainder of the cost. Again, we reiterated our offer. Again, he stammered and then left.

I know that to me a couple of dollars is not much at all to part with, but I don’t think that it does him any good to fund his addictions. Even if that may be the only thing that helps him get through the day.