PLEASE MEET SHERYL:
Exploring homelessness inevitably leads to pondering solutions. In conversations and thought processes. It’s the normal progression. But constraints and ideas get quickly tangled in tedious frustration.
Kind of like social long division. Answers are elusive as a seemingly infinite solution domain abuts the empty set.
Tired common denominators stagnate beneath an endless sequence of irrational numerators. Each quotient being as unique as a human soul. But only by engaging the souls do we begin to abate the confusion and complexity. And learn reasons, if not solutions.
Sheryl lives in a small tent in the woods with her dog Two Paws. I didn’t know her. “I’m an open book,” She said. “I have no secrets.” Her stories are choreographed with structure and sequence, peppered with humor and blunt honesty. Echoing ancient influences. This woman has soul.
Sheryl is a descendant of the Northern Aleut tribe. Her people inhabited the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea for thousands of years. She speaks of traditions from her native heritage and Russian Orthodox upbringing. “In the ocean we fished and hunted seals, ducks, sea lion, and octopus. From the cliffs we gathered sea gull eggs. In the mountains we hunted Ptarmigan. We ate salmon eggs, sea urchins and fermented seal flippers.” Her favorite food? Her eyes widened, “Octopus with seal oil and salt!”
In sixth grade Sheryl helped organize the Native Olympics in her small town. She participated, excelling at events like the Seal Hop, Kneel Jump, One Armed Reach and others. “I almost won the women’s One Foot High Kick.” This entailed kicking a 92 inch high suspended seal fur ball and landing on her feet. In the winter Sheryl enjoyed church traditions including “Staring” where the community walked from house to house carrying a large star, bringing food to needy neighbors and singing traditional songs.
Sheryl is 51 now. She was married for 34 years and worked front desk jobs. She loves people and animals. She has struggled with drugs and alcohol since childhood. She was clean and sober for 5 years, but the death of a close friend and subsequent divorce left her challenged, homeless, and back to alcohol and substance abuse. She makes no excuses. She clearly states her personal solution in simple terms, free of complexities or confusion, “I need to pull my head out of my ass and get on with my life.”
Getting to know Sheryl, you see though the eyes of an old soul. Stitching yesterday to today. Her dark eyes offer light, and speak to insights engrained from ancestors and experience. Ushering an honest and direct path into a beautiful soul.
SODO Neighborhood | Damian
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