Sunday, May 24, 2015

Bright Eyes and a Warm Smile

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 24, 2015

Whether you full-time RV, half-time, or live in a sticks and bricks, I am sure you have met folks along the way who, without even knowing it, have impacted your life in a positive way. Joe and I had one such encounter not long ago. 

One of the hikes we did in Sedona was a combination of trails around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Returning to the jeep I spotted a young man struggling with his bicycle as he was trying to load it about 3 parking spaces away. 



Joe, who was busy loading up our hiking gear in the back of Pearl, didn't see him so I suggested he might want to give the young man a hand. Joe approached him and asked "Do you need a hand there young man?" He quickly accepted the offer and replied "It is much easier to take off before I hit the trail but, can be a little tricky when I am tired." 

As Joe looked down to pick up the three wheel specialty bike, he noticed what I had already seen. This young man had no legs from the knees down. Joe asked about his disability. And the reply, "I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time" and later explained it happened on a day back in Afghanistan in 2010. 


We both teared up and thanked him for his service and spent some time chatting with him. We commented how bright eyed and happy he looked and how great it was that he had spent the day on the trail. "I spent a lot of time in the hospital and then in rehab. I could feel sorry for myself, but then I would notice someone with no legs at all, then someone with no legs and missing an arm or even both arms. There is always someone in worse shape than me", he said. 

What a lesson for us all ! 



He was in Sedona as part of a two week road trip while on break from college in Colorado.  His goal is to earn a degree in communications and we're sure this young man will achieve this goal and any other he sets his sights on.





What an impression he made...



I saved these pictures and the story from our Sedona visit with the idea it might make an appropriate blog for Memorial day.  May God Bless the U.S.A and the men and women who so bravely and often sacrificially defend Her.

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful encounter. We are so fortunate that so many brave Americans are willing to go the distance for our country, for every one of us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a great view of the La Salles in the lead photo…

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you saved the story for this weekend:) What a great encounter. I am sure the young man enjoyed talking with you and really appreciated the help. Great that you were observant and reached out to offer assistance:)

    Beautiful header:) Good to see the snow is still on the La Sal's. When we arrived mid April they were almost bare but thanks to late spring snow they were covered when we left.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What suiting story for this weekend, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an amazing young man! I'm glad you were there to assist him with the bike, chat with him, and learn his story.

    Your post renews my faith in the endurance of the human spirit!

    ReplyDelete
  6. As usual, love your pictures. And, you are right in that there are many people we meet that make a great impact on our life.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful post and story. To many forget the true meaning of this holiday and some others too. Thank you for posting

    Of course your photo's are fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  8. Perfect post for the day :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely photos, as always, & the perfect post for Memorial Day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Catching up on blogs, great story, thanks for sharing on such a special holiday. --Dave

    ReplyDelete