So it's late Thursday night and I'm taking out the recycling. A guy darts behind me on the sidewalk. I can hear his cans clanking in a potato sack as he rushes by. I tell him to wait up as I know I have a few cans. It turns out he's taking wine bottle, cans everything.... no biggie:-)
He's so thankful, so apologetic, so humble. He helps me take out my paper recycling. I tell him to hold up again. I just remembered, Jodi just placed a few pairs of old khakis on the goodwill box. I ask, "Tiene usted una familia.? He lights up and says YES, a wife and daughters. He was probably in his late 30's, had athletic clothes, shoes, and seemed well groomed. His English was not bad and he looked fit.
I run to get the khakis and give them to him. Again, he is so thankful, so apologetic, so humble. After I return he tells me he's having a hard time finding work because he's injured. He points to his knee, and shows trouble lifting it. I tell him my name is Todd, he says his name is Juan.
Juan tries to help me with my paper recycling and feels awkward for leaving without helping me more. I go to shake his hand and he scrambles to take his gloves off. At this point he's just grateful.
I'm not sure why this inspired me to write about it. I don't even have a point to my story, other than maybe hoping the khakis work out for his wife. Maybe in the spirit of tax season I'll say I hope part of what I put into the system goes to Juan, I really do.
What a cool way to end the week. Becca and Chris are coming over tomorrow and I'm really excited. I picked up some Prather Ranch dry aged fillets today from the ferry building and some shrimp. Tomorrow is surf and turf day, I said so.
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