- April 25, 2024
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Readers are reminded to share the wealth, and are reconnected to long-lost partners, thanks to the Observer.
It's a small world, after all
Dear Editor
I simply had to tell you this.
In 1973, I immigrated to the U.S. with a job as a senior resident in a hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. I had two Interns reporting to me: one from Pakistan and one from Argentina. I have had no contact with either of them in 30 years.
This morning I got a phone call from the guy from Argentina, who is still in practice in Cleveland, Ohio. He had seen my name in the online Ormond Beach Observer, when you published the letter a couple of weeks ago, and in your archives found the photo of one of my paintings that you published a year or more ago. He found my phone number on the internet and called just to touch base. He has kids and grandkids now living in Miami, and might retire to that area.
Just thought you needed to know how the Observer “gets around.” Small world.
Glenda Donoghue
Ormond Beach
*The following comment was posted to the story “Everybody’s got one: What’s your story,” on www.OrmondBeachObserver.com.
Grocery-line kindess
Dear Editor,
Funny I should see your column, “Everybody has one: What’s your story” this morning.
I was deep in thought last night about the man I stood behind at the check-out line in Winn-Dixie that looked like he'd been working all day. His ripped jeans and gloves were covered in white goop. I was also on the move, and in a rush to get back home with my Redbox DVD and coffee creamer, when I noticed him patiently waiting with his chicken enchiladas and trying to engage in conversation with the older ladies beside him who were not responsive at all.
Sure, he looked rough, and yes, even homeless, but did he deserve the cold shoulder? So what if his greeting was "Hey man, what's up?"
So when he glanced at me and asked what I was reading, I answered. He smiled and was satisfied. But I quickly returned to Jen and Brad's story in the magazine, without a second thought to the real person beside me. The line moved slowly. Pulling my head up out of the magazine finally, I realized the man was just about to be turned away from his frozen dinner purchase for being 11 cents short. He had started to pick up his $2 and spare change from the counter when the words couldn't get out of my mouth fast enough.
"I got it", I quickly said. The man simply looked up and said, "No way! Really. Wow. Thanks man."
Who the stranger was, I'll never know, but a pastor in town once told me something about angels unaware. I almost missed my chance, but that moment will be stuck with me for awhile. Glad I'm not the only one.
PS: This is a small town and everyone wants to feel important. Truth is we're all small, no matter how big our story is :)
Lucy Cloer
