An Aura of Freedom

An Aura of Freedom

All I gave them was a panful of soggy burritos wrapped in foil, left over from a party the night before.  The love I got back seemed out of proportion to my small gift.  The big vegetarian burritos might’ve been thrown away to make room in a full fridge.  To get rid of them, they’d been brought to the drum circle to give away.

The drummers didn’t look very hungry compared to a group of homeless young people a little ways off.  Under a large tree a dozen hippy-looking people sat and lounged on dark sleeping bags and blankets, which were unlike the colorful camping gear of picnickers around them.  They wore survival gear but also many flashes of color, many religious symbols and trinkets and garments with spiritual or eclectic meaning.

There was an aura of freedom in the way they looked, moved and talked.  Liberty was about all this group had, as they and their many dogs enjoyed the beautiful sunny day.  They greeted me with smiles and were happy about the burritos.  They said there were also other people around who would be glad to have them, that they could give them to.  It’s not that they were starving or anything.  Most of them take pretty good care of themselves.  It’s just that it can be hard and expensive for them to get healthy food out there without a refrigerator or cooking facilities.  Anything home-made is very rare.

I walked away and joined the drum circle for a few hours, then came back to give them some nachos.  What a warm welcome I received.  As if royalty I was invited to sit on a faded sleeping bag, was ceremoniously offered some of nature’s finest.  No better hospitality was ever given.  I heard some of their stories, why many actually prefer to live outside.

❦❀❦❁❧❀❧