Just a story

It's been a crazy, crazy week. You know, for the last 7 or 8 months I work like 60+ hours a week. Most of which I'm constantly on my feet. I hate getting a pat on the back, especially from myself, but you won't find a harder worker than myself. Anyway, I work hard for what I've got, which isn't much. So here I am, on my way to work. I stop at the conveniance store to get a pack of cigarettes. It's cold as hell outside, somewhere in the teens, so I leave my car running while I go in the store.

Flashback about5 years or so. I had gotten arrested for public intoxication and possesion of marijuana. All I got was a slap on the wrist and 50 hours community service. They sent me to the bus station to clean toilets and wash floors. One day there was nothing for me to do, so they told me just go outside, but don't leave. Being that this was in a not so wealthy neighborhood a lot of the homeless people hang around the bus station. I'm sitting on a bench smoking a cigarette, and along comes a man. Don't konw if he was homeless or just poorly dressed, but it made no difference anyhow. He sat on the bench and asked if I could spare a smoke. No problem. Being that I was the only white kid for miles he assumed I was there for community service. Good assumption. He proceeds in telling me that he had made some bad decisions in his lifetime, but things were changing. He let life get the best of him. He finished smoking and I finished listening, and he went about his way.

Flashforward. My friends dad was in the store getting his morning coffee, so I stopped to talk for a second. I get my coffee and cigarettes and head out of the store. My car was on the far end of the lot, which made me think twice about leaving it running. It's cold and early morning, who's looking to steal a car? Well there's somebody looking in my window reaching to open the door. I walk over and ask the man if I can help him. He turns to look at me and it's this same man I talked with 5 years ago. I never forget a person. I asked him if he wanted a cigarette. He looked at me like I was crazy. Then I asked him if he remembered having a conversation with a white kid a few years back. He vaguely remembered. I told him that I did remember, and that what he told me in that conversation stuck with me. And on the few occasions that I began to revert back to what I used to be he came into my mind. My life has changed. He told me that his was as well, but obviously had not. He appologized and asked if I was gonna call the cops. I told him not as long as he didn't take my car. He just looked at me dumbfounded and began to walk away. I told him to hang on and gave him a couple dollars. I got in my car and headed to work.

Two meetings I'll never forget. It's odd that this man and his story could help change my life, but can't change his own. I look at the punk ass kid I was 5 years ago, and who I am today and it's simply amazing the way people have an affect on one another. I'm at a point in my life where I don't fear another person. For all I know that man could have had a gun and a bad state of mind. If he wanted my car that bad, I would have let him take it. It's not that important. But what is important is that we make each other feel like human beings. I don't know if there's anything that will ever help that man change. I only hope that any time I come across him or anyone else in a bad set of circumstances I can do something. If nothing else, at least treat them with a bit of respect. I guess my point here is that we never know how someone can change us. Whether it's a motivational speaker or someone about to rob you. I'd preferr the later, there's more to their history. Don't walk past a chance to play your role in life.