On Monday as I approached the bus stop on Eglinton Avenue, I again saw 'the Blanket Man'. His hair was still it's usual matted mess but he was covering himself by holding onto a new grey blanket. I didn't get a really good look at his feet, but possibly also he had on new running shoes, although as usual his legs were bare. As usual I couldn't help but wonder if he had any clothes on under the blanket.
I usually see him rushing up Yonge Street near Eglinton and getting on to or off of the subway train, he rushed down the stairs this time at Eglinton and Yonge and had somehow turned around from his eastbound walk along Eglinton and reached the subway before I did.
I wonder who he is, whether he ever gets a bath, where he gets food and goes for shelter. I am glad he has a new blanket to cover himself with instead of the old rag of a coat he had before although neither that nor his shoes is adequate covering for anyone in this or any kind of Canadian weather.
Maybe I am a coward but I am afraid to approach him, even to ask if he needs anything.
Most of all, I wonder why the city ever closed the Queen Street Mental Health Centre (999 Queen Street as we called it when I was a child) and left these poor, obviously needy people to walk the streets inadequately covered and unprotected from the weather and/or whatever in themselves has brought them to the streets.
NOTE: As of April 2013, the Blanket Man is still around. He seems to be wearing shorts and a shirt and carries his blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He seems therefore, to be alive and, perhaps also, well.
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