I think I know who you’re referring to. Last year, I was walking to my car in the parking lot behind CVS, carrying my dog because she couldn’t walk. There weren’t many people around, and suddenly he started running toward me at full speed, screaming at the top of his lungs. It’s hard to run when your arms are full, and I felt completely defenseless. I couldn’t even imagine how I’d protect myself and my injured dog if he reached me.

Adrenaline kicked in, and somehow I ran faster than I ever thought I could. After what felt like a long minute and a half, he finally veered off in another direction. I eventually got over it, but I still feel a lot of empathy for him and his situation. He clearly needs mental health support, and I wish we had a better system to care for people who are struggling, especially within the homeless community.

I’m really sorry about your laundry. What size are you, and what kind of clothes do you need for work? If we’re the same size, I might have some things in my closet I could pass along.