I was walking down to the grocery store yesterday, which takes me past a pretty busy intersection. There’s a homeless shelter just down the street and the bums like to work those corners, begging motorists for change while they’re waiting for the light to change. There was a guy there that day, standard hand-lettered cardboard sign in hand, bumming for coins, and he saw me and shouted, “Hey, man! Happy new year!”

I fired off a “You, too” and kept on walking. About five steps along it hit me: What possible happy new year could this guy have? Short of winning the lottery, I’m not sure there’s much that’s going to improve his current life status. What new year wishes could I offer him that wouldn’t be simply bitterly ironic? Here’s hoping you don’t lose a foot to frostbite? May no yuppie teenagers soak you in gasoline and set you on fire? To a year where you don’t finally succumb to psoriasis?

I need to find another route to the grocery store.