I met Frannie today. Frannie is a homeless lady who shows up around Kingstree from time to time. I’m not certain why Frannie is homeless but I do know that she taught me a lot in the hour I spent with her.
The 60+ year old had positioned herself at the corner of Academy and Longstreet Streets. She seemed comfortable watching the traffic from her foldout chair. Each of her earthly possessions was bagged, organized and attached to her traveling companion – a baby stroller. I wondered how she had the strength to lug around such a conglomeration of goods.
On the day I sat with Frannie, the sky was clear and the air was clean. Traffic was zooming by and the sound of gospel music from an old radio perched within earshot floated in and out of our conversation. She smiled a lot as she described living on the streets, relationships along the way, and family – who she says are close by.
I’ve heard that Frannie can get rather feisty at times. Her sharp tongue has thrashed the egos of more than a few well-meaning souls. I can only try to understand her zigzagging temperament. I don’t know how I would behave if my existence was comprised of grocery bags, a radio and a book about Calligraphy. She says she’s going to take up Calligraphy as a hobby.
Frannie showed me some of the possessions she plans to use to embellish her home – once she finds one. Her image of home is nothing more than an abandon house. But she has come up with some other ideas for living quarters. One idea she describes with great enthusiasm is transforming a container car into a humble abode. She said it would be perfect for one person. It could be set on cinder blocks.
Frannie is a veteran traveler who has inhabited the hardscapes of Virginia, Washington D.C., Georgia, and Florida. But she likes South Carolina, saying it’s not about living where the grass grows greener, rather it’s where the people understand you.
Fannie’s life isn’t just about a place to sleep or where to go to the bathroom or simply surviving. From our brief discussion, I gathered that Frannie is looking for meaningful relationships. She talked about family ties and taking care of one another. She talked about her mother.
When it was time for me to head back to work I offered Frannie my assistance. She informed me that someone was coming to pick her up. I hugged her small frame. She hugged me back. She smiled and waved as I drove away.
I will never forget Frannie or her street corner wisdom. The little woman with the bright green hat knows a lot more about life than I will ever assume to know. Thank you, Frannie.