Life is Strange

Ages ago, when I lived in Akron, Ohio- there used to be a man that walked all over our little city. He was elderly, and everyone always seemed to point and stare, and some would even give him money.

He held his hand to his ears, and never spoke a word, that anyone remembers. Rumors were that he survived Vietnam and shell shock. But to get him to tell you anything, it just wouldn't happen.

After a while, we quit seeing the man, and everyone wondered what had happened to him. Asking about him would be brought up through strange conversations, and everyone seemed a bit concerned and worried.

Eventually, talking to many people that had seemingly been around for a while, we learned the name of the man that caught everyone's eye.

One day, a lady showed up on my porch to get several documents notarized. I noticed the name, and asked her if she was related to Akron's famous walking man, and she said yes.

I pursued the issue, and asked her why he was homeless and peddling for money, and she started laughing. She proceeded to tell me that he had a nice big white house, with the picket fence and everything in West Akron. She then told me he was a Vietnam Vet, and that he received checks from the Military, that he had been deafened while at War. These checks were sitting in drawers, uncashed.

I had drop jaw.

She continued on, stating that they also had several cars, and she often had to find him, and take him home and bathe him. She explained that he wasn't exactly out of it, but just bored sitting at home, and wanted exercise so he walked. She also stated that he never "asked" for money, people just assumed because he was old, and dirty, and covering his ears, that he was in need.

I shook my head, she was right, he never had a sign, and never asked for anything.

Then she told me that when she brought him home one night, bathed him, and laid him in bed, he told her "I think my time is up." She didn't understand what he meant, and when she asked him, he just told her "Thank you, and always remember I love you." She said she tucked him in, and the next day when she woke up, he was still in bed sleeping. Except he wasn't sleeping, he simply passed on. He was 98 years old.

I lowered my head, still in shock.

The thing that blew her mind, was that when she was donating his things to Thrift stores and what not, she went through his pockets first. In his big trench coat, she found wads of cash. In the lining of the trench coat, more cash. In his pants pockets the same thing, more money. Even in his shoes.

Later she learned he even had a life insurance policy on himself, and not just the one from the Military either. She announced proudly that they were never bad off, that she always had everything she ever wanted. And now in his death, he is still providing for her. She told me, she never had to work a day in her life, that she was truly blessed.

I was numb with shock myself. Her words, made me think. We always assume that when a person is filthy, and stinks that they are bad off, and going without. Rarely do we assume that the person just changed a motor in a vehicle, and was walking to the parts store to get a part. We as people want to make things "appear" worse then they already are.

That is why so many people, myself included hate it when someone assumes. You do more damage with your assumptions, than you do knowing the truth.

Not everything is at it seems, a person crying may not be crying tears of sorrow, but in fact tears of joy. Try to think positive. Sure you can offer to help, just don't do it with a look on your face offering pity, and sadness. No one likes to feel belittled.

The purpose of this article, is to help you the reader see, that you may not know the truth after all, especially if you assumed it, or even listened to rumors!

Assuming is just like judging. It's not what we were put on this Earth to do. There are far better things to be doing, other then thinking you are better off than someone else, even if you in fact are.