We stay where we can in layered clothing. Sub-freezing temperatures redefines forgotten fashion sense. A palette of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows; salvaged from East Fremont Dumpsters, are warm found treasures; Gifts from Angels. The guys do the 'Dumpster Diving' as I, at my 49 years of age, am too out of shape to get into a dumpster, let alone out. But I do my part.
I sort the cans from the plastic and pile other artifacts for later evaluation. I have to hurry. The little white truck, that passes through the alley behind 24th Street Market, on most days between 10 and 11am, will be here soon. Three large bags, of plastic bottles mostly,
and one small bag, heavy with crushed aluminum, pays between $3.00 - $5.00 for 6 hours of labor with a 4am start. Our pay does not go far in a 3-way split. It's enough though, to start our Day. We self-medicate with $1.07 beer from the 11th Street Market and ciggarettes, 3 for a dollar, from the Fremont Market in front of the Alicia Motel. We trade 'Homeless War Stories' of how we got here and make plans for the day.
We stay where we can in layered clothing. Sub-freezing temperatures redefines forgotten fashion sense. A palette of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows; salvaged from East Fremont Dumpsters, are warm found treasures; Gifts from Angels. The guys do the 'Dumpster Diving' as I, at my 49 years of age, am too out of shape to get into a dumpster, let alone out. But I do my part.
I sort the cans from the plastic and pile other artifacts for later evaluation. I have to hurry. The little white truck, that passes through the alley behind 24th Street Market, on most days between 10 and 11am, will be here soon. Three large bags, of plastic bottles mostly, 
