I see Maggie almost every time I go to Sixth Street. She always gives me a big hug, but she rarely wants to linger in conversation. A few weeks ago, things were different. Maggie actually felt like talking, and I for sure felt like listening.
Maggie started with a bit of good news: She’s been working with Integral Care of Austin, which among many offerings, provides counseling and case management for adults. Maggie, who has been living on the streets of downtown Austin for a couple of years now after relocating from Houston, hasn’t had a permanent address and hasn’t been able to get her disability check. Integral Care, Maggie said, is helping with that issue and is exploring housing possibilities for her.
Maggie told me her 40th birthday was coming up on May 7. Her oldest son, Jacob, would turn 20 the day before. She didn’t want to answer personal questions about her children, but she happily shared their names and ages: Jacob, 20, Jerry, 9, Darius, 8, and her youngest, Isabela, who is 4. She knows their middle names and birth weights by heart. She misses them, desperately, and nurtures hope that someday things will have changed enough in her life that visits will be possible.
“The way I see it, my oldest will come looking for me eventually.”
“The way I see it, my oldest will come looking for me eventually,” Maggie said. As for all four of her children, “Their mama’s gotta be in the right state of mind for them to come.” Having her own place, Maggie said, would certainly be attractive — a tangible sign of stability. A logical place to stay.
I told Maggie to just keep plugging. Stay connected with your caseworkers. Take small, concrete steps toward happiness and change. All of which prompted her to share two of her favorite sayings: “Teamwork makes the dream work,” and “God loves us, and don’t let nobody steal our joy.”
About an hour later on Sixth Street, I ran into Maggie again. She was dancing and grooving along with a Michael Jackson impersonator, @theprinceofpop1. When he took a break, Maggie asked him to pose with her for a photo. He was caught off guard by Maggie’s request, and I assured him it was ok — she loves bringing people together. Her expression might not show it, but these interactions bring her great joy.
