Panhandlers at Truck Stops

A panhandler approaches you and asks for a few bucks.

"If I give you money you're going to buy booze and maybe some blow".

"Oh no bro! I swear I won't! I just need to eat.... Been a couple days now".

"You mean to tell me you have no intention of scoring alcohol or drugs?"

"Yeah man!! Ya got my word!"

"Well, in that case FORGET IT."

Then turn and walk away.

 

So today I'm again reminded of why I HATE crackhead truck stop panhandlers. This happened at the Pilot in Fort Worth I35 exit 65.

So I'm at the fuel pump and this guy comes shuffling up to me. As a professional truck driver, you can spot the panhandlers a mile away. They all look the same in every city and they all generally have about the same sad story. Anyhow, this guy looks (and smells) like something off "The Walking Dead."

As he stumbles up he starts off with a variation of the "We are old friends" routine, that goes something like "Hey driver! How you doin? You doing ok? Great great! Well look, I got a bit of a situation..."

Well I just cut him off right there and said "I'm not giving you any money."

So he says "Well hold on now, you don't know whats going on now."

So I say "I don't care if Martians landed last night, vaporized your house, raped your wife, ate your children, and pissed all over your favorite Picasso painting. I'm not giving you a #### dime! If you are hungry, I'll give you a can of soup and a soda out of my pantry. If you are out of gas, bring your car around to the front and I'll put 20 bucks in the pump for you. Otherwise, you can just keep on strollin'."

Well he just got surly with me and used a few choice words before heading over to the next truck. Something about being racist too(???). That seems to be an oft utilized retort to rejection I've noticed. I don't understand that though. Maybe he assumed I just don't like Martians? All kidding aside there's a solution for your lack of money. Its called WORK. What the rest of us do that struggle to get by. I don't have spare change to feed habits for people that won't work.

 

I pulled up tonight at Frazier Park J and was updating my logbook and this chick maybe her 20 s says that her and her boyfriend ran outta gas and need to get home. To L A. She said anything helps. Didnt look like a pandhandler to me and I looked at her and saw she was distressed so I gave her 6 bucks. I just felt she was in a hard place at the moment she wasnt selling sex or anything so I figured she was normal so I gave her my pocket change.

 

I haven't peed in 300 miles, and I like your shoes.

 

I don't give out cash, but when I'm on the road I try to keep McDonalds, Subway cards for any fast food restaurant located around the Truck Stops then if told "I'm hungry" then I offer the gift card. What really bugs me, is when people use their kids to get sympathy !

 

Next time your near the intersection of Valley Blvd.@the 605 Freeways in the City of Industry, CA. Check out our long time "resident off ramp beggars". One is a very healthy looking 20+ year old wearing $80 sneakers, whose "thing" is to stare at the ground all day, never looking up. No sign, just stares all day@the left turn light. Idiots give him and his "brethren" money all day long. Different guy across the intersection is the 30 something "Vietnam war vet" with what looks like a missing leg. He takes off his prosthesis and hides it in the bushes and that guy makes BANK. His NEW 2012 Toyota Tundra is parked in the lot behind the tire shop next door to the off ramp. He has GREAT hours, no nights/weekends/bad weather etc and I'll just bet you, his income is a lot higher than a lot of OTR drivers. The "staring guy" hides what appears to be a $1000 mountain bike under the overpass. Major holidays, these guys rake it in. Maybe I'll take it up in my retirement. All cash, no taxes..My very own economic recovery plan.

 

Recently had a gal with a toddler hit me up for cash inside Walmart! I mean C'mon, I can't even shop for groceries in peace?

I just tell 'em I work so Obama took all my money.

 

I don't even bother with most of these people anymore.
If I'm sitting in the Seat after Parking at a TS, and somebody comes up to the Truck I just shake my Head and wave bye.
I have also gotten to the point of telling people to go bother someone else and get lost if I am fueling or walking inside.

 

Panhandlers knocking on my door makes me a little uneasy.some of those folks can be kind of scary.

 

And STINKY! And for some reasons the most grody ones out there want to shake your hand off, pat on the back, be all up in your face, and completely invade your personal space lol!