Asshole or Angel?

Bessy Vega

Sep 26

2 min read

In life, we can be of service or be of hindrance.

Each day, we face that choice.

A kind word.

A gesture.

Simply choosing not to argue with someone who is clearly in distress.

Or escalating the issue.

Being mean.

Or, much worse, simply ignoring the situation as if it had nothing to do with us.

For a month, in 1986, I was homeless.

I was traveling overland through Mexico for the first time and had all my things stolen.

I ended up in San Diego with the clothes on my back,

my passport and green card in my front pocket,

and 500 Mexican pesos, which were equivalent to a buck.

I met assholes.

I met angels.

I had one bus driver ask me why I refused to have sex with him in exchange for a ride.

When I continued to refuse, he yelled at me, “It’s not like you’re a virgin!”

He was right.

I had lost my virginity 3 years before to a rapist.

A nun saw me shivering and pulled out an old sweater to give me.

I found a young homeless-by-choice guy who taught me everything about staying alive on the streets.

From selling my plasma to finding a warm place to sleep during the day in a movie theater.

To staying with me on the roof of the Catholic Kitchen during a very cold night.

People who gave me food.

People who offered me money for photos or videos.

Or all-day “experiences” with very evil vibes.

My point is…

Life will be filled with these two kinds of people.

You can count on it.

But for every asshole,

There will be an angel.

If not more.

Don’t stop because you keep getting the assholes.

Keep going.

Life is like sales.

You have to get through a whole bunch of NOs

Before you get a YES.

And lastly...