Lessons from Lee

For those of you who travel on Hill Street, just a few blocks from campus, the sight of this friendly waving man may be familiar to you. His name is Lee, and he is a resident of Clear Brook Apartments. According to their website, the folks at Clear Brook meet criteria of low-income, disabled, and/or elderly. 

Week after week and almost month after month, I would find myself driving by this apartment complex, looking forward to seeing this man offering a friendly wave to every car that passed by. It would be a high point of my day, and I would feel saddened and disappointed on the occasions when he wasn’t there. Each time I wanted to stop and meet him more personally, but invariably I was either too busy or running late for my next commitment.

A few weeks ago I decided to ignore my schedule and stop to meet the mystery man in the wheelchair. He introduced himself as “Lee” and shared some of his story with me:  he was a veteran and had traveled many places. After retiring from the military he drove a truck all over the country. Due to aging and diminished health he now lived at Clear Brook.  “I couldn’t stand just staring at the four walls,” Lee explained. So Lee has made it his personal mission to maneuver his wheelchair up the long driveway to Hill Street and spend hours at a time waving to every automobile that passes by. I know how much his simple gesture makes my day, so I can only imagine the hundreds if not thousands of others whose lives have been brightened by the mystery man of Hill Street. 

So what have I learned from Lee? 

• Never underestimate the power of a friendly wave.

• Each of us has something to offer another no matter our circumstances or conditions.

• If we are too busy to take the time to meet a new friend, then we are definitely way too busy!

If you’d like to join me in making a new friend this week, please come by the Dell near Tate/Montgomery this Friday afternoon between 3-5 and experience “Take a Seat, Make a Friend.” Watch this video about others who have had this experience!

This special activity is sponsored by Residence Life and the FYE (First Year Experience) program.  Tell them Lee sent you!

Peace, Anne