A Remarkable Life Story Told to Me In a Few Minutes
Of course, no actual life can be reduced to a casual ten minutes of listening along a sidewalk in suburban New York but what a story of perseverance it is. I relay it to you so that we may all know how easy most of us have had it compared to Freddie.
Back Story
I have an office/studio a few blocks from my home and along the way there are things one expects on a busy avenue and perhaps a surprise—a Chinese restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, a body shop, a spa, a liquor store or two and a Community Fridge. This community fridge and pantry is a monument to human kindness and I pass it with reverence and awe for the generosity it represents. Every day, I see folks stocking the pantry and fridge, sweeping and cleaning the area and a fairly steady stream of folks loading up on the decent quality canned and boxed goods and produce. Nearby to this is a pleasant shaded area with a nice park bench where I see gathered regularly the “three amigos.” Being the gregarious and curious person I am it is like me to stop, say hi and engage in banter. The main character in the amigos, is Freddie, an older Haitian American who has a Morgan Freeman vibe and wears a large Masonic pendant with a G on it.
A few weeks back I asked Freddie what it meant to him and he said five things holding his hand up: God, Knowledge…