We were living in Berkley when there were quite a number of street people around who made their living "spare changing it" on each corner. A simple walk down the street was more like running a gauntlet as you couldn't go more than a block without some needy soul asking for a handout. For someone like myself who doesn't drive this was a nerve wracking and expensive situation! There was one fellow there, however, who I didn't mind helping out with a quarter when I had it. We called him The Broom because he patrolled his block carrying a broom which he used to make sure every scrap and stray leaf stayed off the sidewalk. When he then asked you for change you didn't feel he was begging, you felt you were giving him a tip for providing a useful service. From time to time I would give him something and one Easter he gave a special gift to me.
The Broom had gotten a hold of an electric coffee pot and had somehow gotten it to heat up (I don't know how he did that. Maybe there was an outlet outside one of the buildings or maybe a shopkeeper let him run a cord through a window). He boiled water in the thing and dyed Easter eggs! What a kick! He passed them out to his "regulars" and I was delighted to be so honored.
The gesture got me thinking. Eggs are a good source of nutrition.
