Monday, January 22, 2007

Newspapers and Stoplights


This morning a white convertible drove up beside me, slammed on the accelerator and sped up, cutting me off as the 2 lanes diverged into one. "Hmmmm, she must have an emergency, we'll let her go first" I said to the 2 teens in the car with me. I am constantly making these "MOM" statements with hopes of brainwashing my kids into becoming great drivers... just like their mom.

After I dropped the teens off at school I went for a walk. As I walked along one of my favorite streets I saw flashing firetrucks and ambulances ahead..... and as I approached the scene... I saw the little white convertible parked in front of the house where the medics were loading a little old man into the ambulance.

I knew this man, not by name, but I knew him. When I first moved to the 'hood with 3 babies I used to rise early to walk before DH went to work. Each morning I would pass by this man's house in the dark and each morning he would stand in his driveway greeting the walkers as they passed by. I said good morning to this man for 10 years. As he greeted the walker-bys he would also go around to each of his neighbor's houses , fetch their newspapers, and gently lean them up against the neighbor's front doors so that they would not have to step too far to retreive their morning news.

What a sweet man !
My thoughts and prayers go out to this man and to his relative in the little white convertible.

9 comments:

Annie Jeffries said...

Oh Diana, I so hope we see a follow-up here with good news. But you know, your story of him was so sweet, I felt like he surely lived a very good life and was clearly much loved. If it was his time then his family will have a beautiful legacy of goodness to remember.

Anonymous said...

Oh, no. I hope he's ok too...

Anonymous said...

Oh how sad...what a beautiful story of this mans generosity.
hugs,
a.

Amy said...

oh gosh so sad, yet beaUtiful. I would also like to be updated. &

ps. Tag you're it! see my blog for details and play along if you like:) xoxoxoxo

Maryam in Marrakesh said...

Oh I am so very sorry about that. How sad.
PS I appreciated how you reframed your thinking on the convertible - great coping skills. You have taught me something.

Susan Schwake said...

lets hope that he is ok. i applaud your momism. lovely to read this story diana.
will you come north for the exhibition?

Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

Thank you for sharing this story in such fashion, I hope your neighbor is okay. You are a fantastic storyteller!

Anonymous said...

So sad - hope he's alright. Thanks for sharing the story about the man's thoughtfulness and good humour.

Kim -today's creative blog said...

sweet story. I was humbled last summer with a parking incident. It's on my blog somewhere in July I think. Certainly learned my lesson.