July 19, 2017
"Do you want take a picture with or without my sunglasses?" She took off her sunglasses and then a pair of bright blue eyes shined through her sun drenched skin and deep wrinkles.

Barbara Joe was waiting at a bus stop on her way to watch the dogs at a dog park.
She doesn't have a dog of her own, but she told me about the time when her poodle who just had six puppies growled at a police officer. The police officer shot and killed her dog and sent Barbara Joe to jail for over day. The police officer claimed that he had to run a background check on Barbara Joe. The puppies were taken away from her and she has been too traumatized to own another dog since.

Barbara Joe just turned 71 on July 2nd. "They lit fireworks for my birthday", Barbara Joe chuckled. She then told me about all of the young heroin addicts coming into the city. Some of them beat up one of her friends that lives in the nearby senior citizen home and took some of her possessions.

Barbara Joe lives on the streets. She has a large rolling suitcase that holds her blankets and other possessions. She is able to eat thanks to the local churches that provide meals for the homeless. I asked her if she believes in God. She raised her arms and with her palms up said, "I'm just waiting for him to come and make things better."