The things you see in this business. This past week I posted about a small child I found after a home showing who wandered out of her home and how I made sure she was back in the care of her (mortified, surprised) mother. I didn't write it to get a pat on the back but to hope that we all watch each others' back.
We have work to do.
I first heard the term "forgotten man" a few years ago when I saw My Man Godfrey with William Powell and Carole Lombard. We have all seen a forgotten man or woman.
Yesterday, while showing a home to buyer clients in Stamford, CT, we saw 2 police cars parked at the side of the road. Next to the cars was a tarp covering something on the banks of a wooded neighborhood creek. The area was taped off, and it really did look like the scene of a fatality. After we looked at the house, my client walked over to the two officers and confirmed the sad truth that it was indeed a fatality. To paraphrase what he was told, a local old crazy guy who wandered the city was found to have perished in the creek. From the sounds of things, he was homeless and troubled. The Forgotten Man's final hour was in that creek. He might have drowned, he might have had a heart attack and fallen in , or something more troubling. Regardless, someone's baby's rough life was over. We were random witnesses to the aftermath.
When I got home, it was late. I missed putting the kids to bed again, but I got to see them sawing wood in their Thomas the Tank Engine bedsheets, snoozing a sweet opera to their father's ears, resting from a day of summer joy. It was a contrast I could not ignore. They will wake up to another day of idyllic sun-drenched fun, with roller skating day at camp, a blow up kiddie pool, Carvel ice cream, and their mother's doting.
I'm not what you'd consider a religious guy but I hope this Forgotten Man will wake up in God's arms, shed of his troubles, whole again, and as happy as my children. I hope his final hour was not as bad as it appeared, and that he even laughed or remembered an old joke before going to sleep. But beyond that I hope the Forgotten Man will never be forgotten, and the perfunctory police search for next of kin or anyone that knew or loved him will not be fruitless. I hope his memory is more dignified than his demise. If anyone knew the poor soul who breathed his last in east Stamford on Brookside Drive in the creek that feeds Holly Pond I want you to know that I won't forget.
Anyone who think we just unlock doors and comment on decorating and do not see what goes on around us is nuts.
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A lot to think about -- not much to say. We always try to give back in whatever way possible, knowing that there are so many people right in our own backyards who are in need. Thank you for the reflection.
Tish, what can you say? We run across lost toys, lost cats, and sometimes lost children. This was my first lost life in 14 years of real estate. I hope it is my last.
Death up close and personal definitely makes us think, doesn't it?
Philip, this is a very sad story, but a great wake up reminder to let those we love know how we feel. Life is so uncertain. May the "forgotten man" rest in peace.
Dang Phil, it's almost enough to make an engineer cry! Life is too short for much of what wraps us around its axle! Bigger picture needs to be kept in focus! Thanks for the reminder!
OK, now I am sobbing. What a touching reminder for us to cherish the moments we are granted on earth and look for opportunities to make a difference. Thanks for this one.
There are too many forgotten men and too many men who can't seem to 'forget themselves'. De Gaulle wrote that the "cemeteries are filled with indispensable men."
I'd like to think of this man as a saint, one of the last who will become first. Kudos to you for writing his story.
I only know how it ended Andrew.
Maybe the gift of chronicling the end balances if no one bothered to write his beginning?
Okay, this really puts things in perspective for me. tonight I had a really frustrating night - got caught in a really bad storm in Cross River. kept trying to find alternative routes to my customer despite 2 treea across the her road; in the process got branches caught to the bottom of my car; got soaked trying to get them out. Then, my customer was a no show. Then got stuck on Rte 35 for 30 mins because of all the downed trees and I'm getting so frustrated and all I can think of is getting home and taking a shower but couldn't since I had another appt. Now I come home I'm in bed and read this and think, what the heck am I complaining abt. That's nothing compared to this. All I can say is wow. And, I'm lucky to be home safe & sound.
Philip, What a touching post written so beautifully. I hope the police have found this "forgotten" man's next of kin. Because of you, I don't think he will be forgotten by any of us any time soon.
Phil, you are a good man. Truly. We see things every day that make us go home and hug our children, pet our dogs and thank God for what could be, but is thankfully not. That poor man.
Wow, this post really makes you think. This is much deeper than most posts I typically read but I'm really glad you shared it with us.
Philip, what a beautiful post. There are so many forgotten men and women who live on the grates and park benches here in the shadow of the White House. One of them served with George Bush senior in World War II and was found frozen one morning near LaFayette Park.
I always wonder how it is that these people have fallen so low that they have no one to take care of them. I know some refuse help, but this kind of story happens all the time. It is tragic.
Though this poor soul lived a difficult life on this earth, at least at the end, I can only hope when the door opened to the other side there was a welcoming party, smiling, waiting to take him home.
Phil - I thought last week was a bad week for me. Not so much anymore. Many of us have so much to be grateful for and many times we take it all for granted. We may not know the forgotten man, but he has taught us a lesson today that can last an eternity.
Phil, pretty powerful thing to witness that brings life into perspective. I am sure this man will not be forgotten now, at least not by you. Such a sad story.