I first met Shayna through a Eugene story. Couldn’t help but fall in love with her. When you meet Eugene, you will understand. Please follow the links. In Shayna’s latest post she talks about her musical beginnings. Loved it.
It will be a year in November since I met him. The man who changed my life for the better. Our friendship is a friendship I have never experienced before and I have a feeling I will never experience anything like it again in my lifetime.
His name is Eugene, an American Marine Vet who has captured my heart. Some days he has no clue who I am, other days he thinks I am Sue and some days he actually knows my name…
A clip of when we first met…
I walked by him with my son in my arms. I noticed his eyes were following me. For some reason I stopped and turned and looked at him. Our eyes met. The once filled hollow eyes were now glistening.
To my surprise the soft-spoken ’scary’ man whispered, “I had me a son once.”
Startled, I smiled “Ya did? There is nothin like ‘em.”
While stealing a glance of my son his voice quivered “Yeah, nothin like ‘em. It’s been 62 years since I seen him.”
My heart dropped and I didn’t know what to say. Before I could really think I sat down beside him and blurted out “Would ya like to hold my son?”
He looked at me with deep desire and then slumped down and hung his head. “No, mam.”
I sat with him for a few more minutes in silence. I finally stood up to walk away. While in the mist of standing I dropped my keys. Eugene bent over and picked them up.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“No, miss, thank you for talkin’ to me,” he stated while handing me my keys.
He leaned back on the bench and his brief glistening eyes turned back to hollow.
Our friendship has grown since that faithful day in November…
That very day changed my life and the way I view people. This man was a man I was very scared of as a child… when I would see him I would turn and run the other way. To think… if I had only opened my mind and heart up many years ago, Eugene could have been a great friend to me back then.
As a human race our assumptions most often prevent us from seeing the actual person(s) standing before us.
We judge one by skin color, one by gender, one by sexual preference, one by occupation, one by social status, one by class, one by beauty, one by education, one by religion and the list goes on….
If we could all open our eyes to the good around us… instead of sinking down into the bad that is pounded into our heads… the world would be a better place. Don’t you think?
When was the last time you stepped outside of your “shell” and opened your arms and heart to someone who needed you as much as you needed them? It doesn’t take much to say a simple “hello”, now does it? It’s amazing what the words “hello” can do. It might even bring you a friendship that beats any other friendship.
The fact of the matter is… I needed Eugene as much as he needed me…
Just a simple “hello”… can change your life for the better.
An angel in a world of miscreants; I too am glad to have met you through your blog.
Hello, it’s me again. I thought I would stop by to say hi. You site is the bomb! I really like it alot. You have wonderful content. I will visit again. Please feel free to do the same.
[…] Run over to Pia’s where yours truly is the special guest blogger… RUN HERE!!!! […]
Morning Shayna,
You are the sweetest and toughest old broad that I know.
I am very glad I can call you friend. 
Brian, Shayna’s, like, 15!
I agree with Cooper. This surly curmudgeon is always moved by Shayna and Eugene.
Doug add about 14 years to that number and you’d be correct… but thanks for sticking up for me on the “Old Broad” comment (BRIAN)!!!!
That was a really fantastic and inspiring post. I’m so glad I stumbled upon it.
Ha! With a green light shining on us smart-asses — in the Bizarro World, tofu is decidedly a meat. In the real world, however, its attic insulation.
Lol, who isn’t i love with Shayna these days?!? The Eugene tales are some of the best examples of how people are supposed to blog…these things exist to document the human experience, our own personal online archives…and Shayna documents a lot of her compassion and humanity.
Shayna, I know how old you are. I was talking about how you look.
LOL, Doug… I knew you knew how old I was… but dang! That is a compliment… tell it to my “crows feet”! LOL!:)
Thanks everyone for your sweet comments…
A - I don’t get your comment… did I ever mention tofu? I am confused!
LOL, Doug… I knew you knew how old I was… but dang! That is a compliment… tell it to my “crows feet”! LOL!:)
I love the Eugene stories! Such an inspiration…
Shayna, you are so lovely, inside and out. It always squeezes my heart when I read about you and Eugene.
Wonderful thoughts. You’re a beautiful person.
Aw, that’s awesome. So sweet. Thanks for the reminder.
I sat by a young guy on the bus the other day, who had a mean, angry face, I was thinking ’suicide bomber’ or ’serial killer’, but when I got off the bus he shot me a really sweet smile, and his whole appearance changed to totally, he looked about 7 years old. I was amazed and a bit humbled at my own thoughts about him.
Shayna (if I may) that nosequitur from A alludes to something between he and Doug from Doug’s guest post (if my memory serves me correctly).
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I did want to get back and comment on this post. I thought of it today when I gave someone a smile who looked like they needed one. It’s a beautiful relationship you share with Eugene from what I can see and a beautiful outlook on the world. Thank you for sharing it and for the reminder.
Thanks, G — you’re right. That comment belonged on Doug’s guest post in Pia’s blog, rather than Shayna’s. Can you blame me for losing track? Pia’s been gone for s-o-o-o-o long now…
BTW, Shayna — very touching story. Most people cross the street to avoid facing folks like Eugene. Human nature, and not their fault — but, as you point out, definitely their loss.
[…] Thanks to Pia for letting me be a guest this past week! _______________________________ […]