Re: I had dinner with a complete stranger🙂

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

that's sad for you Im sorry he had to make a choice.

My FIL didn't see his older son for over 25 years & I know that situation reasons. I always had problems with that but not for me to judge why he made that choice. My FIL always talked about it but I told my spouse (his brother) butt out!

When a person is 96 I think they deserve a little respect & yes, that saddens me as I wish everyday I still had my dad! I can't imagine not seeing or being estranged from my family I know I would lose my mind for sure! I have no idea his circumstances & certainly wouldn't ask.

Kitlynn · ‎03-09-2010

That is wonderful and what a gift for you and him. He touched your heart and you made his day.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

Great story.

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

@webbgarner1

So true! I spent hours and hours with my FIL when I relocated. Sometimes I'd go to his home(4 hour drive for me) just to visit for the afternoon have dinner with him & his lady friend then drive home.

He was a wealth of information of life that I would never known. Consider he was born 1907 how many changes he saw in a lifetime! So interesting. I taped many of our conversations. And everywhere we went I accompanied him. I went with him on The Honor Air project to Washington, DC wwII memorial all in one day. I was honored he asked me & to meet the others was a wonderful thing full of great memories!

the older generation has a lot to share/offer even if it's just "life's lessons"!

hennypenny · ‎03-10-2010

Maybe you will run into him again. He may eat there often at the same time or day. I bet he is thinking about you also.

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

! @sweetee2

wrote:
Every now and then we see elderly men sitting alone having dinner. It breaks my heart to see them. I often wonder what their stories are and why their alone. Thank you for eating dinner with him.

A lot of us elderly do not see our adult children much. They are to busy for us. It,s very important to volunteer, take classes, have a hobby, keep busy, don,t sit around feeling sorry. Have a good cry and get on with life, it,s short. Their loss, but more important, my great grandkids loss.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

It was very kind of you to strike up a conversation with him.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

@makena, to them, it was like a twin to a family member and they felt they knew him.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

What a very lovely thing to do @homedecor1

We have a guy that just sets at our table ,when ever he sees us. He really is a character ,and always manages to discuss some recent medical procedure he had, in vivid detail

He is a bit of a handful but , we know he is lonely, and we just listen and smile ,while my appetite takes a nose dive

Our life is very full, and I don't think his is, so we just count our blessings and carry on.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

I'm glad you lived in that moment. That was wonderful. I'd also have gone over to help that man. That was the sort of thing my mother did too. I wouldn't have questioned it or hesitated either. That was wonderful of you to do. I'm sure you made an old man happy that day. At that age, some memories all they have they recall with fondness, was their military career. It was in my dad's case too. That makes you feel close to them.