What's in a name?

I saw my name in the paper today. It was in an article about a man who spends time with homeless people. He brings food, clothing and friendship to a population that live outside the "norm". It was a nice article, but what really caught my attention was the mention of a homeless woman who had died. Her name was Cheryl Mendoza.

They just briefly mentioned her, and the fact that she was run over by a train in November. Since I was reading an online newspaper, I did a search of our name and it brought up an article that reported Cheryl's death when it had occurred. In some ways we were alike. The article spoke of how she grew up in San Jose, was a great cook and loved to read. Three things we very much had in common. Then there were the details of her life that were very different from mine. Of how she was homeless, loved vodka, and how she died. The article was not all sad. They did speak with those who knew her, and had befriended her. Even in a life that is out of the "norm", she had a circle of friends.

It is strange to see your own name, with the details of another's life attached to it. Especailly one that seems so tragic. What led her to a life on the streets? Loving vodka? With an end, that seems to me, to be too soon. It makes me wonder, why am I the Cheryl with the normal life? How did I wind up sitting in my warm living room, while she was sleeping under a bridge? I know many people think they have the answer to questions like that. I read a myriad of opinions that people wrote in response to the article. As for me, I am not so sure of the answer.

I know there have been times in my life that were right on track, when I have followed the rules, worked hard and then the bottom fell out from under my feet. At other times I have been wildly successful, all by accident. Or more likely I should say, by grace.

I do think of Cheryl though, and the people who will miss her. My life may be deemed by society as more acceptable than hers, but you cannot find fault with the impact she had on those around her. They spoke of her with affection and love. In that facet of our lives, I hope I am more like her than not.