PLP as for Proper Living Person

When I left the house on the beautiful sunny Sunday to go out for a Coffeebreakfast I meet the Chinese Bottle Lady with a big fat
smile on her face.

"Hello.", I greet her - as I always greet people I see often. Okay, I grew up in a little Village - maybe that is just the way these Village People and maybe Canadians do. Also ... I like the Chinese Bottle Lady and give her - when I have some - my empty bottles.


"Hi.",she answered and her smile got even bigger, when I pointed on her well filled plastic bags, which hung on a long woodstick on both sides of her body.
"Ohhh...", she said.
The following Sentences or Explanations made fully clear, how her Day went.

First she pointed at the Alley behind her, make noises like "Ha Ha Ha.", then she pantomimed how she found her bottles.
She lined them up again, collected and put them again into her bags.
Constantly commentating it verbally.
"Uihhh." She was so surprised to find so many bottles in one place.
"Ah." She was very fast in putting them into her bags.
and
"Hi Hi Hi." she was so happy about the Treasure she got now.

After all that illustrations she gave me a "Thumb up", I gave her a "Thump up" - happy that I understood her and happy for her good and productive day.
She said
"Hai." and I "Goodbye" ... satisfied that I know the people in my Neighbourhood.

Maybe it is just the sunny weather which makes People talk.
Maybe it is my looking at people and be open for a conversation - or snippits of Lifestories.
At the Bus then I met a PLP - as he explained me.

I was standing in the Bus.
All seats were gone and a Man of about 60 with a "Playland" Jacket on, was looking at me and speaking something I did'nt get.
Anyways. I smiled and said
"Yes."
"You always have to give something in return. When you find something. You just have to give it back."
"And sometimes it is just a gesture.", i answered. Thinking about getting and giving in a whole other surrounding.
"Once I found a wallet with a drivers License. And the next day ...before I got to work i went to Main and Cambie to return it there. You know. There is a lost and found. When I find something I always give it back. Or try to give it back."
"Aha.", i said. Looking at him and his smiling eyes.
"Once I found a wallet with a little change in it and there was also an american insurance Card in it. With the name on it and everything. I went to the other Lost and Found and brought it there."
"You are a nice person.", I say. Thinking about all the time he puts into the returning.
"I just figured that a drivers License is important."
He gets a tissue out of his pocket and blows his nose and then continues.

"You know. When you are in School and there is this PLP. You know this Parents as Learning Partners. I just switched it in
Proper Living Person." He laughs a little to hisself.
"One of my Coworkers. A young guy. He said to me: 'Hey man. dont do that! It is way to much work.' And I just said: " When I would be your father I would kick you in your ass. I don't want to work for a compay which does'nt return stuff which is lost and which the people need. And she sure needed her Drivers License. It is important." He nodded.
"I just want to live a proper Life. And I want to look at myself with respect."
"That is so true.', i said and thinking again of a whole other thing in a different surrounding. After all. All the same. and there was somebody who understood me. A stranger in a filled up bus.
"And all the bottles i find. As you might have figured I am a sweeper at Playland." He gave me a wink with his left eye. "Anyways. I find a lot of bottles. And I know, that the Chinese People are coming to collect them. So. When I find a bottle I just throw it over ot the other Side of the fence. When I find three bottles. I just throw them over. What the Heck."
"What the Heck.", I repeated and would have loved to hear more stories of him.
"I am sorry. I have to get out now. It was nice meeting you. A proper living person. Have a nice day!", I said to him and he smiled to me and said:
"It is nice to meet another PLP." he answered and smiled back.

When I came home on that sunny Sunday afternoon from my Coffeebreakfast I was just smiling...
Maybe it is just a smiling day...