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Another lesson in humility

Joe Mama

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Tonight when stopping by my local convenience store for some ice, bread, and lunch shit I was getting back into my car when I was approached by the 'sad sack' of people whom you expect to bum your spare pocket change.

It was raining, kinda shitty, and this guy "Hey, excuse me, excuse me'd" me as I was packing my shit into my car looking to get fed and buzzed post BJJ beating.

My first impression of this guy - You have made poor choices in your life, you love teh bottle, you want my change... So (against my better judgement) let this guy run to my car to plead his case...

"Mister, mister, I have a favor to ask of you. I just came from the hospital with a diagnosis of cancer "- And I cut him off with my handful of loose change. "You need some spare change?" I said.
Surprisingly he almost seemed bewildered by this, and said - "No, I need a ride to my daughters so I can ultimately get back home. I just came from the hospital diagnosed with cancer and they refused to give me anything for pain until the results of the CAT scan come back"

So against my better judgement, I told him to get in and I would take him to his destination. Almost immediately, he nearly broke into tears that a total stranger (with the 'fuck off/no thank you' on the tip of his tongue) gave him a ride to his daughters)

He didnt have the exact coordinates, but merely landmarks of where his daughter lived. One of which where my own daughter had trained BJJ and Muay Thai for a very significant amount of time.

This of course spawned the discussion of martial arts as a whole, and he dropped on me that he was a high level kru for Muay Thai and had been for many years.

Of course, I had no real reason to doubt him until he started mentioning names of those whom he had trained with and for... This blew my mind - what a small universe we exist in. This 'sad sack' of an (assumption) whom I (almost) thought I might have to defend myself from, turned out to be a high level trainer, whom (chances are) I have crossed paths with over the decades I have been in the business along side with. Working and training with the same folks whom I have been working/training with since my own start into this MMA journey.

Long story short - The universe is strange and places you and counterparts into strange/cohesive positions you don't always expect.
Age and wisdom exlempilfy this exponentially (sometimes) :D
 
I gave a half empty milk container that was turning curdy from my car to a bum taking bottles from the recycling bin at the tim hortons drive through this am. He looked like a junkie though so fuck him.
 
Dear diary,
a sucker let me into his car tonight. That would be the fourth guy this week. I'll pick my next human handbag specimen tomorrow among those four.
 
Don't get me wrong - I have picked up 2 other 'need a riders' in my life, and BOTH were OT story horrendous experiences.

This (to my own HUGE) surprise, was the first and only legit 'Helping another human being in need' experience. The fact that he almost burst into tears at the fact that I put myself out there and helped him (amongst our commonalities in fight trainers) made this experience one of those that made me say "Damn, Im glad I didnt slam my door in your face and drive over your foot" moments.
 
I think we could all use a lesson in humility every now and again.
 
Why didnt this guy have his own transportation, and why he did not know where his daughter lived? Why he just not call daughter to pick him up?
 
Tonight when stopping by my local convenience store for some ice, bread, and lunch shit I was getting back into my car when I was approached by the 'sad sack' of people whom you expect to bum your spare pocket change.

It was raining, kinda shitty, and this guy "Hey, excuse me, excuse me'd" me as I was packing my shit into my car looking to get fed and buzzed post BJJ beating.

My first impression of this guy - You have made poor choices in your life, you love teh bottle, you want my change... So (against my better judgement) let this guy run to my car to plead his case...

"Mister, mister, I have a favor to ask of you. I just came from the hospital with a diagnosis of cancer "- And I cut him off with my handful of loose change. "You need some spare change?" I said.
Surprisingly he almost seemed bewildered by this, and said - "No, I need a ride to my daughters so I can ultimately get back home. I just came from the hospital diagnosed with cancer and they refused to give me anything for pain until the results of the CAT scan come back"

So against my better judgement, I told him to get in and I would take him to his destination. Almost immediately, he nearly broke into tears that a total stranger (with the 'fuck off/no thank you' on the tip of his tongue) gave him a ride to his daughters)

He didnt have the exact coordinates, but merely landmarks of where his daughter lived. One of which where my own daughter had trained BJJ and Muay Thai for a very significant amount of time.

This of course spawned the discussion of martial arts as a whole, and he dropped on me that he was a high level kru for Muay Thai and had been for many years.

Of course, I had no real reason to doubt him until he started mentioning names of those whom he had trained with and for... This blew my mind - what a small universe we exist in. This 'sad sack' of an (assumption) whom I (almost) thought I might have to defend myself from, turned out to be a high level trainer, whom (chances are) I have crossed paths with over the decades I have been in the business along side with. Working and training with the same folks whom I have been working/training with since my own start into this MMA journey.

Long story short - The universe is strange and places you and counterparts into strange/cohesive positions you don't always expect.
Age and wisdom exlempilfy this exponentially (sometimes) :D

Definitely an interesting experience to make you think.

I don't really understand how he went from being diagnosed at the hospital to hanging around a convenience store parking lot looking for a ride, though.
And needing a ride after being done shouldn't have been a surprise development. What was his plan for getting home when he went to the hospital?
 
Why didnt this guy have his own transportation, and why he did not know where his daughter lived?
He had worked in this general area for the past 30(some) years and went to the country (100+) miles to retire. He was back in the area visiting and getting medical treatment - to which (according to him) they told him to fuck off until they had concrete results.

That aside, he knew too many of the old school (not so well known) names to not be legit. I had no reason to doubt him.
 
Definitely an interesting experience to make you think.

I don't really understand how he went from being diagnosed at the hospital to hanging around a convenience store parking lot looking for a ride, though.
And needing a ride after being done shouldn't have been a surprise development. What was his plan for getting home when he went to the hospital?

And he wasn't exactly 'hanging around' the convenience store, he was well within the walking distance of the hospital in which he told to fuck off after they didnt help him to his satisfaction.

I guess I forgot that part - The doc was rather apathetic, so he ripped off (at least) one of his wrist bands and told them to fuck off. He did have at at least one wrist band still intact.
 
He had worked in this general area for the past 30(some) years and went to the country (100+) miles to retire. He was back in the area visiting and getting medical treatment - to which (according to him) they told him to fuck off until they had concrete results.

That aside, he knew too many of the old school (not so well known) names to not be legit. I had no reason to doubt him.

I am not doubting his story, but I just wonder why he did not have his own transportation. How did he get to medical appointment? Did he take a bus? If so, why not take it home? And how he not sure where his daughter lived. His daughter should have accompanied him.
 
I am not doubting his story, but I just wonder why he did not have his own transportation. How did he get to medical appointment? Did he take a bus? If so, why not take it home? And how he not sure where his daughter lived. His daughter should have accompanied him.

Totally agree, but the shitty weather and sadness of his appearance seemed to tilt my compassion meter just a little more than usual.

Trust me - I had the 'No thank you - Fuck yourself' response on the ready. I was 2 seconds from slamming my car door in his face, but for some odd reason decided to hear him plead his case.

For one small humanitarian moment, Im glad I did.
 
Totally agree, but the shitty weather and sadness of his appearance seemed to tilt my compassion meter just a little more than usual.

Trust me - I had the 'No thank you - Fuck yourself' response on the ready. I was 2 seconds from slamming my car door in his face, but for some odd reason decided to hear him plead his case.

For one small humanitarian moment, Im glad I did.

If someone like that breaks into tears while bumming a ride from me, I dont know how Id react.
 
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