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Photographer

(1,142 posts) Mon Dec 7, 2015, 11:05 PM Dec 2015

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A message from a good friend of mine on FB that both broke my heart and made me think. [View all]

"I'm in Jasper , Alabama and I just spent an outrageous amount of money for Christmas gifts.

Then I saw an old man standing on the main road with a sign that said "please help me get back to Memphis so I can take care of my dog before I die."

Of course, no one was stopping but as I drove by I noticed that he was one of my clients when I worked in mental health and he has an IQ of a 8 year old. He was safe and secure when we took care of him back then but cuts to mental health forced his release other than a visit every now and then to the Jasper mental health center. I actually know his story is true about his dog in Memphis because that was where he was sent to live with his drug addicted sister.

I called some of my former MH co workers and he now has a bus ride to Memphis with a mental health service administrator waiting on him when he arrives. If I wouldn't have known him would I have stopped? Probably not. I need to do some serious soul searching. What have I become? What have we become?"

That's the end of this message from my friend and it hits hard during this holiday season.

65 replies

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Highlight:

A message from a good friend of mine on FB that both broke my heart and made me think. [View all] Photographer Dec 2015 OP

Kicking. n/t lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #1

K&R. nt Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2015 #2

Hits us ALL hard. elleng Dec 2015 #3

Me especially for a single memory. Photographer Dec 2015 #4

Oh golly. elleng Dec 2015 #5

You're a kind, compassionate man, photographer.. whathehell Dec 2015 #17

You have a heart of gold, Photographer. Heart of gold. BlueCaliDem Dec 2015 #27

This year homegirl Dec 2015 #39

Nice idea. I'm going to copy you. Squinch Dec 2015 #62

Wow Marie Marie Dec 2015 #6

Wow! What a story. cui bono Dec 2015 #7

+100 n /t Photographer Dec 2015 #13

I hear people say they don't want to give money to a drug addict or alcoholic Maraya1969 Dec 2015 #47

I give out food a lot. Buy extra and give it out on the way home. cui bono Dec 2015 #48

That is a great idea. And thank you for helping that man with no teeth! That Maraya1969 Dec 2015 #49

There's nothing like these posts to make you realise what a Joe Chi Minh Dec 2015 #52

Yes. senz Dec 2015 #63

Thanks, you made my day. oasis Dec 2015 #8

Naw, Thank you. Photographer Dec 2015 #10

+1000 smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #9

I keep a stash of $5 bills in my car to give to "beggars" Divernan Dec 2015 #11

Good on you. Photographer Dec 2015 #12

Completely agree! Pacifist Patriot Dec 2015 #14

don't believe in karma or religion Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #15

Same here. I carry a lighter on me. F4lconF16 Dec 2015 #43

poverty is the hardest job in America annabanana Dec 2015 #33

My feeling is that, if someone scammed me awoke_in_2003 Dec 2015 #53

thank you for doing this because hopemountain Dec 2015 #60

Kicking... I was hoping this wouldn't slide to page 2 so fast. Photographer Dec 2015 #16

K & R !!! WillyT Dec 2015 #18

The least among us are outside and alone, every night. raouldukelives Dec 2015 #19

k and r niyad Dec 2015 #20

K & R Bryce Butler Dec 2015 #21

The one and only thing wrong with this is navarth Dec 2015 #22

My christmas gift last year... sagetea Dec 2015 #23

What a great story. Photographer Dec 2015 #24

I think it takes a great deal of courage, chervilant Dec 2015 #25

As a Person RobinA Dec 2015 #26

As a (non-practicing) Christian, I've always believed that we should give without conditions. BlueCaliDem Dec 2015 #28

I have a slightly different perspective on it, but I completely agree. F4lconF16 Dec 2015 #45

Yes, I wonder what the PC people with a hang-up about money, make Joe Chi Minh Dec 2015 #50

The big story here SmittynMo Dec 2015 #29

They call it burnout, but what it is a form of PTSD. I cannot even look at the ads from the ... marble falls Dec 2015 #30

I'm not sure it's what we've become as much as it is the reality of life. Fla Dem Dec 2015 #31

kick Angry Dragon Dec 2015 #32

Your friend suffered an attack of humility, ... CRH Dec 2015 #34

I'm glad your friend took action. That's what is needed. hamsterjill Dec 2015 #35

Kick. Thank u for helping him Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #36

I've often wondered where some of my therapy patients ended up. nolabear Dec 2015 #37

You do good work. Kudos. Photographer Dec 2015 #38

Thanks. Sadly it really gives you a look at the differences in social and economic strata. nolabear Dec 2015 #42

Charles Dickens absolutely agreed with your perspective. Divernan Dec 2015 #54

To your friend.. SammyWinstonJack Dec 2015 #40

bravo allan01 Dec 2015 #41

I know what you've become Depaysement Dec 2015 #44

A very insensitive person once told me that if a homeless person's sign was funny, Flaxbee Dec 2015 #46

Reading that made my blood run cold. High time for a return of that Joe Chi Minh Dec 2015 #51

She had a gentle, loving message. senz Dec 2015 #64

Every time I read something you wrote, I like you more and more. Squinch Dec 2015 #55

Thanks, Squinch. I needed that. Photographer Dec 2015 #58

. Squinch Dec 2015 #61

K&R... spanone Dec 2015 #56

K & R nt Bigmack Dec 2015 #57

one year my jeep hopemountain Dec 2015 #59

K&R - thanks for this, Photographer. senz Dec 2015 #65