This morning my husband and daughter, Sam came back from their workout at the gym. They go 3 mornings a week and are usually home by at 6:45AM. They both love it. The gym is located in a large warehouse, a strip of storage units.
Sam told me that as they were turning the corner, pulling up to the gym, the headlights in the dark caught the shadow of a person. As they got closer, they could see a middle aged woman in only her bra and her underwear. She had soap in one hand and a garden house in the other. She was taking a shower in the parking lot of the storage facility. They quickly turned away, to allow her some privacy.
As they entered the gym they couldn't stop thinking about the scraggly woman washing in the dark, cold garden hose. Sam mentioned it to someone working out with her. One of the members indicated that the woman lives in one of the units. She washes in the hose a couple of days a week and stays there full time.
As they left, Sam turned to look. The woman's unit door was half open. She had a bed, a chair and some miscellaneous items neatly placed inside of the tiny shed, not much bigger than the size of a bathroom. There is no air conditioning and no windows.
Sam came home in disbelief. "Mom, it's so sad to see someone like that." She was really upset.
I think that often in our lives, we don't stop to realize how truly blessed that we are. So today, when you have a moment, stop and notice the beauty of a flower. And, be thankful for the wonderful life that you have.
Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate
Brevard County Real Estate & Investing
I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.
that for you
Sandy - how terrible but yet so important that your daughter had to witness this. We are so very fortunate and we need to be reminded that there is still so much more that we can do for others. There, but for the grace of God, go I. A very touching post on this Thankful Thursday. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Well said Sandy. I agree with you. We need to count our blessing each and everyday, because they may not be there one day.
I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
Susan, We all must be reminded how fortunate we are. And we must also be reminded that there are others less fortunate than us that do need assistance. And when possible, we must reach out a hand to assist them.
Hi Michael, Great reminder to count our blessings while we are here, as we don't know which will be our last day.
Oh my goodness, Sandy. That is heart breaking. We have so much that we just take for granted. I have been procrastinating today, because I have to go grocery shopping, I hate grocery shopping!then the thought occured to me that I was truly fortunate to be able to afford to get groceries! It's all a matter of appreciating what we have.
Sandy, it is tragic that we have homeless in this country, and hopefully with community services many can get off the street.
Unfortunately, some of those people are heroes. They risked their lives to make ours better and safer and now are forgotten lonely soles. Too many of our heroes get left behind.
Sandy-That is such a heartbreaking story. There is so much more of this than most of us realize. Great post. :-)
Hi Sandy
That times we don't realize what we have until we someone with very little
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Sandy - It seems to be quite a universal problem especially in some areas of the country. I belong to a nice Health Club, where I swim laps several times a week. There has been a guy that comes to the club nearly every day. In fact I had noticed no matter what time of the day I'd go there, he would usually be there, either working out with weights, swimming, sitting in the jacuzzi or steam room. Much of the time he'd be sleeping pool side on a chaise. He was always polite, and I never thought much about it. Then I found out he's homeless, sleeps near the river, but stays clean at the health club, where he spends his day!
Sandy,
We should be thankful for what we have. My mother used to always say: there are children starving in China or where ever. This never happened when we had ice cream just when she served beets or liver....UGH!
Ann
Sandy, This is very hard to witness first hand. I see homeless people on my way to workout in the morning and I say a little blessing for each of them.
Let's finish this week strong,
Paul
Hi SS,
that is a sad, tragic story. I find it amazing that with all the terrible things we have occurring in OUR country, a lot of people still give to other countries before helping our own.
I know all humans deserve the help but let's take care of our own first.
Sandy - a sad a poignant story, there but for fortune, as many have said. But at least she is not in a cardboard shanty town. We need to get this ecomony turned around.
Too often I see people who are just plain miserable despite having a family, roof over their heads etc. I am glad to be able to provide for my family and thankful for my family.
Mary, I know what you mean. Everyday should be a reminder of how fortunate we are.
Gary, It would be a blessing to have our homeless off the streets. I hope that someday becomes a reality.
Brad, So often our heroes do get left behind. There is no question about that!
Hi Pat, It is sad. And we don't see so much of it, I agree.
Hi Lou, So, true and that's really the sadness of it all. Often we have to see someone less fortunate than we are, to realize how blessed we are. We should be pinching ourselves everyday, reminding ourselves how lucky we are.
Myrl, Touching story. Wow, this man is fortunate to have found a comfortable spot at the health club to rest for awhile. But, I wonder if one day when you go in there, he might not be there, as someone may complain.
Hi Miss Ann, Your mother used to feed you liver and beets when you were growing up too? I thought only my mother did that - lol. I heard the same words from my mother. Then one day, my dad said we were not EVER going to have liver anymore. I was thrilled. And in later years, we heard that liver really wasn't that good for you anyway.
Hi Paul, How kind of you to say a prayer for those less fortunate than you are. You are truly a wonderful person.
Hi TO, I think we should focus on helping our neighbors, as their is poverty on our own streets.
Hi Mike, I suppose it could be worse for her. It makes me sad to see someone living like that.
Hi John, It is really sad to see people with full lives that are so sad and miserable.
Sandy - I've belonged to that club for 3 years, and had not a clue about him until recently. He's always docile, polite, and CLEAN. Although we have lawyers, doctors, architects, and professional folks that work out there, somehow I don't think they will complain. I get more upset when a 6 year old jumps on my head from the edge of the lap pool while I'm swimming.
Sandy,
I think liver is terrible. I do not care how good for you it might have been.......
It is a small world...;-)
Ann
Sandy and Ann - add me to the club! Liver is high in cholesterol and like kidneys - it is an organ!!! Think about it - YUCK!!!!
Myrl, Well I hope that it works out for this kind, docile man at the health club. It sounds like he has found a comfortable place to rest from possibly a not-so-perfect life. He is blessed. Like you I wouldn't want a 6 year old jumping on my head in the pool.
Hi Ann and Susan, I think there are some things that are just not meant to go into your mouth. And liver is one of those things. Growing up we had liver once a week for dinner. The smell of it was nauseating. We had liver casserole. fried liver, baked liver, barbequed liver, you name it we had it...and it was disgusting. As an adult I have never cooked liver in my house and I never will. UGH! I'm not surprised to here that you both are in the liver haters club too - LOL.
Sandy,
How true that we take so much for granted and don't even think about it until we hear stories like this one. "There by the grace of God goes I".
Richard, It is terrible that we have to hear stories like this to realize how lucky we really are.
Sandy,
New club....the liver and beet haters club....
UGH
Ann
Hey little woman, I'm there! I would love to be the spokeswoman for the liver and beet haters club of America...boy could I tell some stories (about how much I fed my dog liver under the table when I was a kid)! Double ugh!