Ripped my heart out...

[GBBob]

If you think you are having a bad day, let me share the story of a guy I met last night. I was catching the red-eye home from Vegas and sitting at the bar having beers. A big guy...probably middle 30's sits down next to me on and is talking to me on his phone. I can't avoid hearing him talking about a wake, funeral etc. He really sounds bad and when he hangs up I just say I couldn't avoid hearing about a wake and I'm sorry. He doesn't say much, but asks if he can use my internet connection for a minute. Sure..why not. He googles the Shreveport, LA newspaper and finds an article and tells me to read it. Seems on Monday a husband had killed his pregnant wife at home, was arrested, three young children now parentless....horrible stuff. He says..that was my Sister..I have to go home and bury her and try and figure out what is going to happen with the kids, my Mom and Dad are barely able to function, etc.
I didn't know what to say...what do you say? Ends up he ( Will) just wanted someone to talk to and we talked gambling, Vegas, etc..all over the place..just not about that. We were on different flights but departing about the same time so we walked to the gate together. He started to head for his gate, but turned around crying and gave me a hug and said "Thank You"...
ripped my freakin' heart out...

[Scav]

You were being a good person Bob, I can tell you that. I just had the same thing happen to me kinda in that my good friend just lost his grandfather, who he was extremely close with. He was the kinda of old man that you could sit around drinking with and he was always smiling. My friend is a quiet/mildmannered(unless hammered)/great guy but has that 'toughness' about him, not very emotional so the last couple of days were pretty hard. The family asked me to be a palbearer and then when i got to the funeral, they asked me to do a reading. While I don't mind public speaking, in that environment, it was extremely hard for me but I couldn't have been more honored. I am emotional by nature but it is so hard, for me, to hear about death and to see people I am close with go through it. Matter of fact, it is hard seeing anyone go through it.

[wiphan]

Horrible story. I feel for the guy. So many times we are reminded how good we really have it.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by wiphan

Horrible story. I feel for the guy. So many times we are reminded how good we really have it.

I'm probably making too much of it, but it was a surreal moment. Before he sat down I was in a great mood...won a bunch at blackjack, great business meetings, going home etc...and then he sat down....things happen for a reason...really brought me back to earth

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I'm probably making too much of it, but it was a surreal moment. Before he sat down I was in a great mood...won a bunch at blackjack, great business meetings, going home etc...and then he sat down....things happen for a reason...really brought me back to earth

good for you. on some level feel good about what you did. you just listened.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/...WS03/801080319

Horrible. That guy has to go home and bury his sister. Just shows how fragile life is. One minute we're here and the next we could be gone.

Makes all of the material things we seek completely meaningless.

[Danzig]

what a horrible story, that poor guy. thankfully he ran into you bob, and you gave him just what he needed. a sensitive ear. i shake my head whenever one of those horror stories hits. it's unreal. so glad for what i have.

[mclem10011]

Originally Posted by GBBob

If you think you are having a bad day, let me share the story of a guy I met last night. I was catching the red-eye home from Vegas and sitting at the bar having beers. A big guy...probably middle 30's sits down next to me on and is talking to me on his phone. I can't avoid hearing him talking about a wake, funeral etc. He really sounds bad and when he hangs up I just say I couldn't avoid hearing about a wake and I'm sorry. He doesn't say much, but asks if he can use my internet connection for a minute. Sure..why not. He googles the Shreveport, LA newspaper and finds an article and tells me to read it. Seems on Monday a husband had killed his pregnant wife at home, was arrested, three young children now parentless....horrible stuff. He says..that was my Sister..I have to go home and bury her and try and figure out what is going to happen with the kids, my Mom and Dad are barely able to function, etc.
I didn't know what to say...what do you say? Ends up he ( Will) just wanted someone to talk to and we talked gambling, Vegas, etc..all over the place..just not about that. We were on different flights but departing about the same time so we walked to the gate together. He started to head for his gate, but turned around crying and gave me a hug and said "Thank You"...
ripped my freakin' heart out...

That's truly heart wrenching.
Scav's right Bob, you were great to be there for the guy. At different times in our lives it helps to have someone there to talk to, we all know that. It doesn't always have to be someone we know, just someone to listen. It helps to talk things out, it's the people that bottle it all up that end up lost in life, or worse.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by GBBob

If you think you are having a bad day, let me share the story of a guy I met last night. I was catching the red-eye home from Vegas and sitting at the bar having beers. A big guy...probably middle 30's sits down next to me on and is talking to me on his phone. I can't avoid hearing him talking about a wake, funeral etc. He really sounds bad and when he hangs up I just say I couldn't avoid hearing about a wake and I'm sorry. He doesn't say much, but asks if he can use my internet connection for a minute. Sure..why not. He googles the Shreveport, LA newspaper and finds an article and tells me to read it. Seems on Monday a husband had killed his pregnant wife at home, was arrested, three young children now parentless....horrible stuff. He says..that was my Sister..I have to go home and bury her and try and figure out what is going to happen with the kids, my Mom and Dad are barely able to function, etc.
I didn't know what to say...what do you say? Ends up he ( Will) just wanted someone to talk to and we talked gambling, Vegas, etc..all over the place..just not about that. We were on different flights but departing about the same time so we walked to the gate together. He started to head for his gate, but turned around crying and gave me a hug and said "Thank You"...
ripped my freakin' heart out...

That's cause you're a compassionate and caring guy, man. I salute you for listening and lending a caring ear.

Off topic, I have photos for you of the Distant View you bought.

[Cajungator26]

Damn, that's awful.

Glad you were there for him, Bob. Lord knows he needed someone to lean on.

Originally Posted by GBBob

I'm probably making too much of it, but it was a surreal moment. Before he sat down I was in a great mood...won a bunch at blackjack, great business meetings, going home etc...and then he sat down....things happen for a reason...really brought me back to earth

You sir are a good man.

[Storm Cadet]

Right place, right time and with the right guy!

Great job for getting involved Bob!