Talking in the rain

I was walking back from an assignment this afternoon and chatting with an older man when it started to rain. I said something about being drip-dry and he laughed and said he's lived life drip-dry all spring.
Turns out he's homeless and his camp was ransacked recently. He doesn't know who did it, but whoever did won't be punished, even if he or she is discovered, so he shrugged it off.
I wished him luck as I crossed the street and he called after me.
"Nobody's wished me luck and meant it before," he said. "Thanks."
I had been at Homeward Bound, a nonprofit that works to find homes for people and get them the services they need to maintain stable lives. The agency is working on a community performance that will tell the stories of people "across the spectrum," as its playwright Jules Corriere said. They're gathering stories now and Jules will turn these true stories into a play that will premiere Feb. 11, 2010.
It all sounds very cool to me. If you think so too, you can volunteer to help. Just call828-768-2456.