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demmiblue

(36,824 posts)
Sat May 25, 2019, 10:37 AM May 2019

Drivers honked as a man in a wheelchair raced home during a storm. This teen stopped to push him...

(CNN)Gregory Beck was on his way to his St. Louis home in his wheelchair when tornado sirens sounded.

Beck lost both of his legs last year and is legally blind, according to CNN affiliate KMOV4. It would normally take him 25 minutes to get back home from the supermarket, and he would need to stop as many as 10 times to rest.

"Everyone kept telling me the storm is coming and you need to hurry up and get home," Beck told the station.

While other drivers honked and yelled at Beck as he tried to cross the street Tuesday and make it up the hill, 16-year-old Seth Phillips and his mother, Amber Gilleylen, stopped their car so Seth could push him the rest of the way home.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/25/us/st-louis-wheelchair-storm-teen-trnd/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_term=image&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2019-05-25T14%3A31%3A02




34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Drivers honked as a man in a wheelchair raced home during a storm. This teen stopped to push him... (Original Post) demmiblue May 2019 OP
Great kid and great mom for raising him to care about others. tymorial May 2019 #1
Recommended. H2O Man May 2019 #2
K&R for Awesomeness! TheBlackAdder May 2019 #3
Thank you Seth malaise May 2019 #4
Aww, thanks Malaise! demmiblue May 2019 #6
A reminder that there's always some good in this world. badhair77 May 2019 #5
Grace... B Stieg May 2019 #7
Hope Billy Ray Joe Bob. May 2019 #8
God bless Americans who still have their souls in tact. pazzyanne May 2019 #9
Yes! There are still great people in this country. liberalmuse May 2019 #26
Floyd the Mailman - 300 Neighbors Throw Retirement Block Party for Beloved Mailman of 34 Years CousinIT May 2019 #10
This is the real USA, True Blue American May 2019 #11
DC is just as much "real America" as any other area. SMC22307 May 2019 #30
I wish I could say the same True Blue American May 2019 #31
Marriott has also offered to pay for his lodging. GoCubsGo May 2019 #16
Awesome! A well-deserved retirement and reward for a fine human being. n/t CousinIT May 2019 #18
And the GFM raised over $26K! Enjoy yourself, Mr. Floyd! catrose May 2019 #17
"drivers honked and yelled at Beck". marybourg May 2019 #12
Seth and his mom will be ignored by Trump, but useless pro golfers will get honors. nt NCjack May 2019 #13
When I was growing up back in the 50s in Jackson, Mississippi Grammy23 May 2019 #14
That reminds me... KY_EnviroGuy May 2019 #24
we've become so cruel barbtries May 2019 #15
I agree. defacto7 May 2019 #21
exactly. barbtries May 2019 #27
This is the real St Louis MO, people caring for each other. I think most of us DUers are like ... SWBTATTReg May 2019 #19
THERE IS STILL EMPATHY IN THE WORLD! defacto7 May 2019 #20
Sometimes American drivers are offensively stupid. PatrickforO May 2019 #22
Yes, that was my reaction too. MH1 May 2019 #33
Great boy you raised!! jovibennett May 2019 #23
These folks made me cry. Duppers May 2019 #25
Same here, Duppers. LuckyCharms May 2019 #34
Inspiring. Thanks for posting. oasis May 2019 #28
Dear Seth, your mom must be so proud of you!! I am and I am not even related to you. demigoddess May 2019 #29
A simple act of kindness oldtime dfl_er May 2019 #32

pazzyanne

(6,546 posts)
9. God bless Americans who still have their souls in tact.
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:14 AM
May 2019

Amber and Seth Gilleylen are patriotic Americans who know the true meaning of honoring our veterans for their sacrifices. Shame on those who leaned on their car horns instead of leaning on a wheelchair while pushing it and its occupant to safety!

liberalmuse

(18,672 posts)
26. Yes! There are still great people in this country.
Sat May 25, 2019, 01:34 PM
May 2019

People with love and compassion in their hearts. The media won't always focus on these people, but we should, because they're everywhere. In fact, most people are decent human beings who care about others and have the same hopes and dreams as we do. It's so easy to forget that when the media focuses on the worst among us in order to get higher ratings and more money from advertisers.

I absolutely loved seeing these 2 stories this morning!

CousinIT

(9,226 posts)
10. Floyd the Mailman - 300 Neighbors Throw Retirement Block Party for Beloved Mailman of 34 Years
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:22 AM
May 2019

At the end of the video in the OP, Floyd the mailman is mentioned (another feel-good story!). Here's more about that:

NOTE: On Twitter, Delta offered to pay for Floyd's airfare to Hawaii

https://people.com/human-interest/more-than-300-neighbors-throw-retirement-block-party-for-beloved-mailman-of-34-years-and-raise-money-for-his-dream-vacation/

Floyd Martin befriended everyone along his route, including the residents' cats and dogs

During his nearly 34 years as a mail carrier in Marietta, Georgia, Floyd Martin has been more like a beloved relative making a daily visit. Kids have peered out their windows awaiting Martin’s arrival, which always included lollipops. He’s given dogs along the route Milk Bones and fed neighborhood cats.

Last summer, Martin decided to retire and Thursday was his last day. Neighbor Jennifer Brett followed Martin along his final deliveries, and as she detailed on Twitter, people greeted Martin with hugs and presents.

They decorated their mailboxes with ‘Mr. Floyd’ tributes and said their warm goodbyes. “When we met Floyd,” said one neighbor, “it was like he was an old friend.” Another said: “He always had a smile, always had a wave.”

And, Brett tweeted, “Kids on his route love, love, L-O-V-E Mr. Floyd.” This includes Mae Bullington, who dressed up as Martin for her school’s career day. “I was so flattered,” he said. “It touched my heart.”

When neighbors found out he wanted to go to Hawaii, they started a GoFundMe campaign to help him realize this dream.

“There was a fullfledged effort to make sure he knew how much everyone loved him,” wrote neighbors on the GoFundMe page. “To say that he would be missed would prove to be a complete understatement.”

Martin lives in Atlanta with his dog, Gigi. “He doesn’t have children, just the 500+ houses worth of kids he spends 6+ hours with every day,” Brett writes in a tweet.

At the end of the day, the neighborhood surprised Floyd with a block party attended by over 300 people.


This twitter thread is a great read:




A pic of Floyd and some of his mail route family:

SMC22307

(8,090 posts)
30. DC is just as much "real America" as any other area.
Sat May 25, 2019, 06:41 PM
May 2019

Please don't knock the good people who live there... sounds kinda right-wingish.

True Blue American

(17,981 posts)
31. I wish I could say the same
Sat May 25, 2019, 06:47 PM
May 2019

For people like Trump, his enablers in Congress.

I am also sure you knew who I was referring to.

GoCubsGo

(32,075 posts)
16. Marriott has also offered to pay for his lodging.
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:51 AM
May 2019

It sounds like the GoFundMe raised a shitpile of money, so that would easily cover island-hopping, souvenirs, meals, tours, and whatever else he wants to do. I hope Delta is sending him first class.

marybourg

(12,602 posts)
12. "drivers honked and yelled at Beck".
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:36 AM
May 2019

From the comfort of their dry car seats. I can hardly believe this. And I grew up in NYC.

Grammy23

(5,810 posts)
14. When I was growing up back in the 50s in Jackson, Mississippi
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:50 AM
May 2019

Our mailman was Mr. Hastings. He brought our mail every day in a huge leather bag he carried on his shoulder. He walked through our neighborhood, house to house. Rain or shine, blistering heat or frigid cold, we could count on Mr. Hastings to bring our mail. One summer, he stopped at the lemonade stand built by me, my sister and our playmate, Tommy. We were thrilled he bought some of our lemonade because business was slow. Ah, happy memories of childhood.

It is wonderful to hear about other beloved figures. It was clear that the community in GA really loved their “Mr. Hastings”.

Hats off to the kind hearted teen, as well. We NEED more stories like this to remind us there is still good in the world. It is what helps us balance out the rotten things in the world. Indeed, it is what helps us triumph over the terrible things that are also in our lives.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,488 posts)
24. That reminds me...
Sat May 25, 2019, 01:09 PM
May 2019

we need to step out and get back in the habit of saying thanks to our mail person and trash collectors every few days. Every tidbit of gratitude toward our fellow man adds up to forming a more loving, caring community.

When I get complacent, I try to remind myself that every act of kindness is a counterweight to the right-wing's shredding of our communities. Brotherly love is alien to them.

....

barbtries

(28,774 posts)
15. we've become so cruel
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:51 AM
May 2019

so lacking empathy and sympathy and caring.

did you notice how the talking head called this act of kindness "extraordinary"? It shouldn't be out of the ordinary to help a person in need! That kind of characterization in my opinion serves to make those without feelings to feel okay about it.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
21. I agree.
Sat May 25, 2019, 12:42 PM
May 2019

But advertising the good in humankind is surely an improvement over the bad that sells everyday in the news. An act of kindness isn't extraordinary but the media surely makes it seem that way. They should say "another common act of kindness that we applaud".

barbtries

(28,774 posts)
27. exactly.
Sat May 25, 2019, 04:44 PM
May 2019

she literally used the word "extraordinary." really? it's that unusual for people to help each other out?

SWBTATTReg

(22,077 posts)
19. This is the real St Louis MO, people caring for each other. I think most of us DUers are like ...
Sat May 25, 2019, 12:30 PM
May 2019

this too. Lend a helping hand when needed.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
20. THERE IS STILL EMPATHY IN THE WORLD!
Sat May 25, 2019, 12:35 PM
May 2019

And yes I am yelling.

Here's hoping that empathy increases and apathy decreases. Empathy is the only positive evolutionary attribute we can offer our planet.

Bravo Seth!

PatrickforO

(14,561 posts)
22. Sometimes American drivers are offensively stupid.
Sat May 25, 2019, 12:54 PM
May 2019

It is infuriating to know that people actually honked at a guy in a wheelchair.

Good for this kid.

MH1

(17,573 posts)
33. Yes, that was my reaction too.
Sun May 26, 2019, 09:28 AM
May 2019

I have to ask "what the fuck is wrong with people?" way too often.

Always makes me happy to see the better people.

jovibennett

(120 posts)
23. Great boy you raised!!
Sat May 25, 2019, 12:55 PM
May 2019

Nice to see there are still people who care about others and are willing to help in times of need

Duppers

(28,117 posts)
25. These folks made me cry.
Sat May 25, 2019, 01:29 PM
May 2019

I get emotional seeing such kindness.

This is the way the world should be: kind!

demigoddess

(6,640 posts)
29. Dear Seth, your mom must be so proud of you!! I am and I am not even related to you.
Sat May 25, 2019, 06:17 PM
May 2019

I am so proud to be an american with americans like you in the world.

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