Mail. 77. Monthly. 161
Parcels. 72. Monthly. 149
As promised from last weeks blog I had an uplifting encounter delivering a parcel last week. I called at a HMO the front door is always open, on opening the door there was a muffled “stop” from someone inside the door. I obviously immediately stop and look behind the door. The first thing I see is a wheelchair and as I look up, sitting in the wheelchair is what I can only describe as a Father Christmas/ Robin Williams (the late comic actor not to be confused with the slightly similar named former take that member) figure. I was obviously about to just open the door into him. I looked at him apologetically and he just had this wonderful smiley glint in his eye. I offered to open the door and he gave me the thumbs up. I knew at this point he had problems with his speech. He navigated the ramp and made his way outside. I delivered the parcel and left the building and met him on my way up the driveway. His first words were “in 3 weeks I will be walking” his speech was slightly stammered and he assisted his speech with small gestures. We got into a conversation, he was on his way to physiotherapy and he confirmed he had had a stroke. I asked him how long ago and he counted out with his fingers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 (just a side note, he used one hand twice he didn’t have 14 fingers)I said “14 weeks?” He said “no”, “14 months?” He said “no”. ”14 years“ I said surprisingly. He nodded his head.” Have you been in a wheelchair for 14 years? And in 3 weeks you will be walking?” He nodded his head again and started to get out of the wheelchair. He stood up unaided and said “I used to be a teacher, and I can’t wait to go back to my school to show them I can walk”. If I was on my own at that moment I’d have probably cried with joy. It feels like the most surreal encounter, almost like it never happened. But it filled my heart with joy for the rest of the day. He was just the most charming and inspiring gentleman I think I have ever met. I actually felt like a child going to visit his favourite Grandad who told fabulous tales and shared his wisdom.
I generally don’t send Christmas cards, although I obviously encourage you too. But this year I might hand deliver a card to a complete stranger just to let them know that they were the highlight for one cold rainy day in October.
Not just a postman.
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