In my previous posting on "MENTORS", I mentioned one of my mentors who gave me the inspiration to believe that I could do and accomplish whatever I wanted. In many of our conversations the one that stood out the most was on friends. He stated that throughout your life if you could count on one hand a true friend that you would be a lucky person.
I took that with a grain of salt in the beginning but I've come to firmly believe his wise advice as true. So far in my life I can, without reservation, count two on one hand. At one time I had a count of three but he made a decision to turn his back on me when it was a critical stage of my life. It was during these past six years of the greatest of challenges.
My definition of a really true friend is someone who truly supports you and will go above and beyond the call to help you no matter what the situation might be. All others I would consider acquaintances that are friends but more the cordial type than the committed. I want to introduce you to those two great individuals that have come through and are now currently coming through again since the IRS has put me into financial devastation and challenge.
I'll begin with Richard, who I met my sophomore year in high school. We were both involved in sports together and our personalities were alike enought that we hit it off immediately. We've always maintained contact throughout the years since high school even though he went his career path and I went mine. He did 6-years nuclear sub duty with the Navy and used me as a personal reference for his security clearance. He, of course, didn't notify me of this so when I received a call from my employer that the FBI wanted to speak with me I was and my employer was a little surprised. Everyone got a good laugh out of that and I had a great sigh of relief even though I didn't have any reason to feel guilty although it makes you wonder what the "H" have I done.
As I noted in my early posting of "Homeless Challenge" that friend who flew me out, provided a safe haven and found me a job was Richard. The eight months I imposed on his gracious support was at great expense and sacrifice to him. It was a humbling time for me not to be able to pay back this great friend and someone I call a true brother. Due to my new situation, I had to rely once again on his friendship. I've wanted to get back to that area for some time because of the great people I had met before. I made some calls for employment and should be able to get something there versus here in San Diego so I called Richard and explained my situation again and that this time I should be able to find employment but needed a place to stay temporarily until I can get financially on my feet and get a place of my own. The true friend he is, he said come up and stay at his place. It's a great relief but on the other hand I feel terrible that I again have to impose on him.
The second person I can count on my one hand is Ken. Ken is the trucker I met at the Salvation Army shelter after my second eviction by my mothers' retirement village. I referred to Ken in my "Life in a Shelter" posting. He is the type of person that will bend over backwards to help a friend in need and he's proven it on a number of occasions for me. Ken has had his number of life challenges of being homeless. He's one of the best at his profession but gets stuck in the never ending circle of life repititions. This has cost him in finding employment but once he lands a job trucking he does an excellent job. Then for whatever reason screws up and ends up struggling to exist until the next.
I had lost my drivers license (a future posting) a few years prior to my shelter experience and I had just finally landed a job as a dishwasher but needed to get my license back for transportation purposes. Ken let me use his conversion van to take my drivers test and loaned me money for my car insurance. I then had access to my mothers' car for transportation which made a big difference in getting around. He was the only person that volunteered to help me move when I was ready to come out to San Diego otherwise I would have had to do it by myself which would have been a physical challenge in itself. He called me this past week to check on my current updates for destination and I told him I had finalized it to N.Calif rather than back to KC because of gas cost differences. He knew I was going to struggle with gas costs to even N.Calif so he's sending me enough money to get there so I don't have to stand at a truck stop entrance with a cardboard poster asking for gas money. He's told me to pay him back when I get financially back on my feet. That's the kind of friend he is. As of this posting Ken begins another trucker position and my hopes are that he breaks that circle of repitition.
I can't say enough to have true friends like these two. As much as I dislike the thought of handouts it's friends like them that give you the hope in dire times. I just hope that one-day I can repay them in the same manner that they've helped me, otherwise I continue to pay-it-forward to others that I can help in my own way.
God bless and God speed
