I made his day he made mine!

[valeriedl]

About a week ago I was at the grocery store shopping. I saw a man who is mentally challenged that I thought I went to school with.

When I passed him the first time in an aisle he looked like the grocery store was the last place he wanted to be. He was walking with who I assume was his dad and he had his arms crossed across his chest with the biggest pout on his face.

When I saw him in the next aisle I asked him if he'd graduated from my high school and was in my class. He got the biggest smile on his face and threw his arms up in the air and yelled "Yes I did!!!!" and he remember who I was. He was so excited because I recognized him because he said never sees anyone who we graduated with. It's probably because no one wanted to talk to him.

We talked for a little while and he told me all about the job he was working at and the things he'd been doing since high school. When he asked about me I told him I have epilepsy and wasn't working because of it.

He didn't give me that 'look' or take 3 steps back like he was going to catch it. He even put his hand on my shoulder. He was very concerned asked me how I was doing and even seemed to know a good bit about epilepsy. When I told him the type of seizures I have he knew about them, he didn't think that grand mals were the only type. I felt so bad because I couldn't remember his name but he knew that people with epilepsy can have problems with their memory too.

When we finished talking he gave me a great hand shake and walked away with a huge smile on his face.

I know he was so happy that I'd stopped and talked to him and I was so happy that he knew a good bit about epilepsy, with very few people do, plus the fact that I made him happy!

 

[SlimBlue]

That's awesome

It seems like irony is not just something to get the creases out of shirts...

 

[Fedup]

valeriedl

That is truly wonderful Valeriedl, it just show how great a person you are. Its amazing how a simple "Hello" make a big difference.

 

[AlohaBird]

There is a guy here in this small town (the only town) on my island who is developmentally disabled and who also has seizures. The thing is he looks and sounds much more disabled than he actually is (a speech impediment plus a long ZZTop style beard). He came up and started talking to me because of my seizure alert dog. He wanted one too.

Once you start engaging in a conversation with him you find out that he is actually quite bright. He stocks shelves at the local market during the day and works security at the local bar taking nervous tourists out to their cars with a flashlight (it gets really DARK here and it freaks some city folks out). He is interesting and even funny.

He has an identical twin brother who is even more disabled having only stumps instead of arms. Both men are small and I wonder if their disabilities stem from a birthing issue such as a cord around the neck or something like pre-natal poisoning.

But it goes to show that if you don't judge books by covers, you end up with more friends.

 

[bandmom]

Reading that put a smile on my face! I've always been shy, and I have a tendency to avoid making eye contact when I recognize people I went to school with. I usually feel bad about it later and think I could have at least smiled and said hi, it might not have even led to a conversation. And even if it did what am I afraid of? I'll try to remember your story and make more effort next time

 

[Blonde Angel]

Valeriedl?

You are truly a gorgeous sincere person & not everyone would do that.
Kudos to you.