Arrival of blue jay man.

In May 2019, I found myself experiencing homelessness once again. As had occurred numerous times before, I simply couldn't manage. Despite considering myself reasonably intelligent, my persistent inability to handle money and finances continued to trouble me. You'd think I would have figured this out by now.

History repeated itself; I essentially gave away all my possessions. I took my truck to the scrapyard, drove it across the scales, and received $220. Just two months prior, I had spent $800 on the tires for that very truck.

I returned to my empty apartment, possessing only a single bag containing a few articles of clothing, hygiene items, paper for writing, and some snacks.

I walked toward downtown St. Joseph, in the same direction as the Missouri River. Within minutes, I found natural shelter beneath an old oak tree.

Near the river, you always receive unbiased acknowledgment. It's the wildlife that seems to have a knack for finding you. It might be a pesky raccoon, a smelly opossum, a deer, or perhaps a wise old owl. They simply look at us, maybe make a small noise, and then move on. It offers a sense of comfort when these creatures stop by, almost as if they could be friends checking in on us.

Not only was I near the river, but I wasn't far from downtown either. I could see both. It was the first time I had ever set up camp this close to society while being homeless.

I was alone beneath that oak tree. That's how I prefer it. I am a thinking person, and I love to be hidden in the shadows.

I should have considered oak mites. After all, it was an old oak tree. I wasn't quite as alone as I initially thought.

I began to feel depressed. My future seemed bleak, and I started considering my options, trying to find a way to improve my current situation.

From beneath that tree, while scratching the itchiness from the oak mites, I watched other homeless individuals. I saw their pain. Some struggled to even walk, while others appeared to be altered in some way. I'm sure we were all worn out and tired.