“Late Morning, Early Spring,” 15″ x 11″ Watercolor, © Donna Lyons 2018
“A mysterious stranger”
By Marty Coffin Evans © 2015
We looked up the little incline as we walked the Boulder Creek Path. There to our right, just below the 28th Street overpass, was a man dressed in a dark brown jacket.
Leaning over, he carefully smoothed out a piece of cardboard. Nearby he had a green plastic bag. Satisfied with his efforts, he quickly scurried into his concrete niche.
How old was he? We never saw his face only his back as he gave methodical care to these items for his “home.”
Neither my friend nor I spoke as we continued walking. We passed another homeless man, this one smoking a cigarette while semi-sitting on the low wall by the creek. We saw him first as we walked west, then again as we made our walking loop back to our cars. Dressed in a light colored jacket, he appeared tall and possibly younger than the mysterious stranger living in his niche under 28th Street.
Do you smile and say Hello? The creek side fellow seemed interested in those passing him by, whether on foot or bicycle. We’ve heard about people feeling invisible. Was this fellow invisible to the passersby?
Who were these fellows? How did they end up living on the streets and underpasses in Boulder? Whose family members were they?
I thought back to a time in San Francisco when walking to a convention center meeting, we picked up free baguettes from a basket outside a bakery. Armed with our two baguettes, we offered one to a fellow on Market Street. His pleasure was not discernable. Later at Fisherman’s Wharf, we offered our second one to a fellow sitting on the sidewalk. Our bread was not the kind he hoped for that evening.
What do these snippets hold in common for me? I remember the San Francisco experience although that happened probably 20 or so years ago. I definitely remember our brown-coated mysterious stranger scampering into his makeshift home.
As I stand by the back door late at night watching the dogs make one last trip outside, I think of these men. Rather, I really think about the one in the brown jacket.
It’s cold outside. How will he make it through the night? Will he become a statistic we read about at some later time in our newspaper?
Depending on life circumstances, some may say, “There but for the grace of God go I.” I hope our Lord looks out for these men (and women too) as they wend their way through life.
Gratefully, the Bridge House, Boulder’s Homeless Shelter and area churches provide a place for some to stay overnight during the colder months along with needed sustenance. Perhaps with spring’s arrival, the elements will be kinder to these strangers in our midst.
April 2025