It was a big night at The Dining Room — very emotionally draining.
I spent the evening with a bloke who would not come into the main dining room for fear of crowds, wore no shoes and appeared to be confused and distraught at first. After I greeted him and we started talking he broke down and told me that his wife had passed away in March this year, and that he had spent the whole day trying to get drunk to forget. I took him aside, brought a cup of tea and we chatted some more — and it became more and more obvious that he was in pain and very much in grief over his wife.
We shared a meal out in the car park and connected over spaghetti. It took longer than normal as he kept breaking down but we eventually parted with a hug, a deep heart-felt hug and with parting words of thanks. I am not sure he will be back but I know he appreciated the space and the opportunity to share some of the grief and pain he was feeling. He shared that he has not spoken to anyone and was not going to speak to anyone through Centrelink.
He left with a car load of friends who he said had helped him but didn’t understand the pain he was feeling. They were all from a local boarding house and spent most of the day drinking. Not sure if I will ever see him again.
On another note the homeless guy I have mentioned before — has left the family tormenting him and is living back in his old car and trying to get himself organised again. Things are looking up for him.
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