Fact: I live in San Francisco. I work at Fisherman's Wharf. The amount of pan handlers I see is outrageous.

So, I may not have a lot of money, but I've always been a deep supporter of the arts. I always try and keep a small side fund account that I can use to feed back into other artists so they can make some money off of their crafts. It makes me feel GOOD.

I see people throwing money to bums on the street with signs saying "I want weed" and it just INFURIATES me. If you think you're helping the homeless, you're NOT. T hey come back every single day. They don't put any work into what they do and they don't learn how to better themselves. I always tell my coworkers how angry I get and how that for every $20 they donate to a bum, they should INSTEAD give that money as a large tip to a street artist, performer, or a tip to a good waitress. Someone who is working.

If you feel the NEED to help the homeless, then go volunteer your time at a homeless shelter. You'll do them SO much more good. Or work at the Salvation army for free. Do some real work that will actually assist these people. Or find a group you can work with and donate the time it would take you to earn that $20 to instead help these people.


So, I was walking today, like every Monday night, to catch my bus. I passed this guy who I always see out on the street with an assortment of fabulous copper wire sculptures he makes. They're really cool and he makes them so quickly. I walked past him like I always do, thinking about how I comment a man like him. I was halfway down the next street when I stopped and thought "what am I doing?" I turned around and walked all the way back to the man and sat down next to him (with all my stuff) and had a big conversation. We talked about art and the people of the city, and he told me stories about his life. I asked how much his sculptures cost and the prices were VERY fair. And he reduced them for me. However, I look in my wallet... $4. ... I actually ran to the bank ATM, and came back; I had him make me a cat so I could give it as a gift to my mom, and I bought this really beautiful motorcycle he said he spent a couple hours on for my dad. He quoted me $25 for the two, and I pulled out $35 and gave it to him and told him I thought his work was worth that much to me. He smiled, thanked me, and gave me a third sculpture as a gift. Asked which of his Christmas items I wanted (they were all adorable!!) I came out with a copper reindeer even though the tree was hard to pass by, so it can sit next to the cat.

The man was this lovely jolly man from Texas who had lived out here for quite awhile. He told me a lot of stories about street artists, and people who just run by and stomp his works of art for no reason. He told me about meeting the woman he almost got married two, and how lights kept flashing in their eyes, which made him feel it was to be. I had a ton of work to do. I'm a poor college student. But taking that time to actually talk to fascinating people is worth the extra tip on its own.

I highly suggest you people take the time to speak to strangers. Get to know someone new. Support the arts, or support someone less fortunate than you who works hard at what they do.

You can bet I'll stop by next week to talk to him again.