Deb and I flew to Chicago this past weekend to visit with family, share a birthday celebration with her sister, see our nephews and nieces perform in school events and piano receitals, and just share some love. Mission Accomplished!
We raced through airports--gate to gate, Deb on her gimpy leg, rolling around on her "doh dart" and me limping along behind with my olde back. What a pair! But, we kept up and made most connections and were often given first choice on boarding, so we certainly couldn't complain, and Deb had room for her BIG BOOT too. As we showed up for our final leg into Boise, we got our passes and went to sit down by the gate. Deb had made a pit stop, and I found an open chair by a young man so asked if it was taken. In his Texas/Oklahoma drawl he said, "No sir!" Here was a young man in his early twenties, short hair, well trimmed, short beard running in a neat narrow row around his chin and back up. I've rarely had anyone address me as "Sir" since my Navy days, so was immediately impressed.
As I waited for Deb to show, and he and I chatted, I learned this young man had flown into Denver from Oklahoma, his first time ever in an airplane. He sat a little slouched down in the chair and his speech was just a hint slow. As we talked I learned he had been a passenger in a pickup that was T-Boned in September of his Senior year in high school. His neck was broken, C-4 completely pulverized and missing. The doctors fused above and below that, but told him he'd never walk again. Though home-bound in a bed and subsequently in a wheelchair, he continued to work on his studies, along with his PT/OT. This young man ended up his year with the highest academic average of his class, but unfortunately was not selected as Valdictorian since he'd not been in school for the majority of the year. However, instead of complaining about this, he looked at me and with a huge smile said, "You know sir, I walked across that stage and received my diploma!" There was no doubt it was one of the proudest moments of his life!
He was excited. He was going to see his 'friend' in Idaho Falls, and have an 'early' Thanksgiving -- he needed to be back to his job as Lead for "Room Management" at the Casino in his home town since Thanksgiving was a busy time for them. Multiple times he referred to me as sir, and I could tell it was a normal function of how he addressed older people. He truly meant it out of respect. I listened as he said how concerned he was that his friend had driven all the way from Idaho Falls and then would have to drive back again. Yet, I saw the excitement in his eyes of the coming week.
Deb and I then boarded. When we arrived in Boise, we were making our way towards the main terminal and baggage when he passed us -- his left arm hung stifly at his side, his left leg rigid, swung forward awkwardly with each step, almost as if he were going to fall, and then it would catch him. He had a huge smile on his face, he was almost there. With Deb's cart, we took the elevator and when we arrived in the baggage claim, there he stood with an attractive young lady--someone else who saw not the stiff arm, not the nearly dead left leg, but the young man inside who inspite of life handing him a huge challenge didn't say, "Why me?", didn't blame the world for his disability, but instead showed how positive and full of love he really was. Deb's foot and my back seemed pretty trivial at that moment.
I'm not sure why some of us are so much more fortunate, when others carry so much bigger a burden, but I truthfully hope and pray, that I can be as positive as he is, that I can respect others as he does, that I can say I'm responsible for who I am. Life is Very Good, and for some of us (whether we always realize it or not) it's Much, Much Better!!!!!
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