day after day, i see him sitting on his front porch, hours at a time, as i walk downtown and back. always perched between the 2 white lions, and looking over his little kingdom – a perfect, green lawn, mowed just so, with soldier-straight rows of plants and flowers – everything manicured and dead-headed and edged and aligned and watered and fertilized. he wears a polo shirt, 3 buttons done up, always the color of a sherbet, neatly tucked into his crisply-ironed and belted shorts, and on his feet are spotless white socks and shoes. i see his sign, carefully hand-printed – ‘3 golf balls for 1 dollar.’
he always nods and smiles as i walk by, a silent sentinel. one day, i walk up to meet him, to buy something, to ask him his story. he slowly approaches me, a bit shy, and tells me i can search the basket to find the ‘best ones’ and then just come back to the porch to tell him how many i have and he will trust me.
as i go up to the porch to pay him, i notice his mustache is as perfectly trimmed as his lawn. he’s an older man who carries a quiet and gentle pride about him. there is one leaf on his perfect lawn, showing his humanity. he smiles with his eyes as he tells me he’s done this for a few years, won’t reveal how he gets the golf balls, or anything else about his interesting business, only that it’s his hobby. he lets me take a picture but doesn’t want me to use his name or his face.
i can see it’s his simple joy, and more important than any money he makes, it’s his way of keeping in touch with the world. he values the conversations he has with people who stop by throughout the day. he has lived a full life and now is enjoying sitting quietly between the lions and watching the world unfold before his eyes.
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It’s good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.
I hope your posts don’t slow down when school starts 😀
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upstairs – no worries, i’m too much of a storyteller for that to happen – thank you )
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Hi Beth. 🙂
What a sweet man and look how tidy everything is! My sons friends dad lived right next to a golf course. He would go out in his buggy in the night and retrieve the lost balls. Lol Hope you had a great day. Hugs Paula xxxx
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paula -he really is sweet and that is funny about the friends’ dad )
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Haha! I agree. xx
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Awww darn! I’m playing a bunch this weekend and just bought a lot if em.
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foodandwine – it’s all in the timing isn’t it?
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I have to say the title drew me in. Beautiful story.
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tomnardone – somehow i knew it would, and it’s one of my fav phrases. i started out thinking it would be cute and ended up being sweet – ty )
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Mr. S would be so proud of your post 🙂 What a lovely story and yes as upstairs has kindly commented, I hope your posts don’t slow down either 🙂 x
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jen – thanks so much and happy mr s would be proud of me )
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🙂 xx indeed he would
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makes me happy to hear jen )
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I used to walk past this man every day when I lived across town. Wow, his enterprise has grown in the last 5 years!
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rebecca – he’s still there and a stronger quiet force than ever )
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A very nice little slice of life. Well done.
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thanks )
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Great post! What a character. Sounds ex-military. Love the Mark Twain quote — very funny!
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brenda – thanks and i’ll bet you’re right )
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forgot to say — love the title. I imagine his spine was very straight. Buttoned up and battened down. He sounds like a family member, in fact. 🙂
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brenda – thanks and his spine was indeed straight )
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Definitely could be a member of my family.
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ah, why you recognized his character so easily )
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I was expecting an array of naughty jokes there but I like this a lot better, and what a great story you have revealed my sweet friend 🙂 Now all we need to know is where he gathers his balls from, hey and no wicked remarks either or else? 😉 lmao
Have a fun rest of day K S Beth 🙂
Andro xxxx
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andro – happy you were pleasantly surprised, i was too, and i’m happy to let him keep his secrets )
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🙂 🙂 I hope you are looking forward to the weekend? 🙂
Andro xxx
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indeed and i actually look forward to every day )
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This is good to know, as positive thoughts and an optimistic approach to life is always the best way forwards 🙂 😉 Have fun today, and an evening of pure exquisiteness 🙂
Andro xxxx
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This is a beautifully written piece into this man’s character! Well done!
And now, for the inevitable crude joke…. “how much for only two?”
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evil – ty and hahahahaha)
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Wonderful heartwarming story…he can be my role model.
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gof – ty, me too )
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I liked that you wrote about this man in a respectful way. You showed his dignity and his way of connecting with the world. I liked this post a lot, more than the pictures, because your words were so touching!
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thanks so much, that’s very nice of you to say. he was such a sweet man, he deserved to be treated with respect. )
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What a great story. You treated a man many might see as eccentric in a very respectful way. The picture caught my eye and I couldn’t resist reading the story behind it. 🙂
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ty and i’m glad you enjoyed it –
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good read!
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ty )
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Your posts should be required reading for all of humanity–so wonderfully spun and they say so much (w/out preaching) about how to live a good and decent (and fun 🙂 ) life. Well done, Beth. And good luck starting back at school.
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wow, thank you so much, how very nice of you to day liz. thanks for the good luck, one can never have too much of it i think )
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We love reading your blog and nominated you for an “award” even though you probably DO have more than 200 followers!
http://juststoplooking.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/verbose-may-be-an-understatement/
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thank you so much, that is really kind of you )
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Very visual, as a Newbie I will follow you regularly for guidance Cheers x
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thank you that is such a compliment and i look forward to reading more from you, max )
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I loved this one! We lived right smack near a golf course when I was growing up except our backyards had the ocean view and my friend’s had the golf course view. Beside a few strays in our front yard… we didn’t get as many strays as the neighbor’s across the street. If you guys aren’t near a golf course… I am curious how he fills his orders! LOL.
Thanks for sharing!
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it is one of the world’s great unsolved mysteries for sure ) happy you enjoyed it – beth
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What a sweet scene — heartbreaking and reassuring all at once. Thanks for taking the time to notice vignettes like these and for sharing them with us!
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my pleasure )
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that Mark Twain quote is real funny 😆
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)
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I love this. My grandad kept his yard the same way. I love your interaction with this fabulous old gentleman. I can feel the joy and pride he takes in caring for himself and his place. What a wonderful way to stay connected with people. Such a blessing. Thank you for sharing!
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it must take a certain personality type, interesting the number of people who recognized someone they knew who was similar. i agree, it is a lovely way for him to stay connected )
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