The thread about giving money to people begging reminded me of this story and I feel like sharing it.
Several years ago I got off work in Palestine about 11am and was driving home after a long night. There was an old man walking on the shoulder with a few bags. He was in an odd place so stopped and asked if he needed a ride. He hesitated a little and then got in. I asked where he was headed and he said he had a job south of Corrigan and was headed there from round rock.
He said he had not tried to hitchhike and had walked most of that distance. I told him I almost never pic up hitch hikers but figured he might need a ride. I'm guessing he was 75 years old but in good shape. He said he had been walking for 3 weeks or so. He was a jolly fellow. I stopped at a bbq place and told him I would buy him lunch. He said he had plenty to eat and stayed on the sidewalk while I went in. I bought him a sandwich anyway which he put in a little backpack. He said he didn't have any money to pay me for it. Of course I didn't expect pay.
As we drove he started telling me his life story. He said he had a nice ranch in the hill country. Made a good living. And retired in his dream home with his wife of over 40 years. They had no children. She came down with cancer. He said he spent his retirement treating her. Sold his property too. Then she died.
He said all he had left was his home and a new Cadillac. He said he was really bitter and mad at god. A few nights later he came home late at night (indicated he was drunk). Somehow the car caught fire in the garage and burned up along with his house. Of course he had quit paying insurance. Suddenly he was alone. Dead broke and homeless after a lifetime of prosperity.
He said he used a pay phone and called an old rancher friend near Corrigan who offered him a place to stay and work on his ranch. He started walking. He said he was very very angry at god and continually cursed god as he walked. Finally he said he told his that he didn't know why he was mad at a god that probably didn't exist anyway. (Continued next post)
Several years ago I got off work in Palestine about 11am and was driving home after a long night. There was an old man walking on the shoulder with a few bags. He was in an odd place so stopped and asked if he needed a ride. He hesitated a little and then got in. I asked where he was headed and he said he had a job south of Corrigan and was headed there from round rock.
He said he had not tried to hitchhike and had walked most of that distance. I told him I almost never pic up hitch hikers but figured he might need a ride. I'm guessing he was 75 years old but in good shape. He said he had been walking for 3 weeks or so. He was a jolly fellow. I stopped at a bbq place and told him I would buy him lunch. He said he had plenty to eat and stayed on the sidewalk while I went in. I bought him a sandwich anyway which he put in a little backpack. He said he didn't have any money to pay me for it. Of course I didn't expect pay.
As we drove he started telling me his life story. He said he had a nice ranch in the hill country. Made a good living. And retired in his dream home with his wife of over 40 years. They had no children. She came down with cancer. He said he spent his retirement treating her. Sold his property too. Then she died.
He said all he had left was his home and a new Cadillac. He said he was really bitter and mad at god. A few nights later he came home late at night (indicated he was drunk). Somehow the car caught fire in the garage and burned up along with his house. Of course he had quit paying insurance. Suddenly he was alone. Dead broke and homeless after a lifetime of prosperity.
He said he used a pay phone and called an old rancher friend near Corrigan who offered him a place to stay and work on his ranch. He started walking. He said he was very very angry at god and continually cursed god as he walked. Finally he said he told his that he didn't know why he was mad at a god that probably didn't exist anyway. (Continued next post)
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