The date: Jan. 1, 2026. I struggled to get out and about, but I’m SO glad I did! Not long after I arrived at my spot, John appeared out of the blue, as he has done SO many times before. There is never rhyme or reason to his visits, he just ALWAYS seems to show up at the right time.
As usual, he parked and came over so we could have a chat.
He told me he was glad I was out and went on to explain why. He said that he’d served as an ER surgical nurse at Summit Medical Center, driving from Shelbyville to Hermitage on a regular basis for 30 years because he loved his job and helping people, but today was different. He had officially clocked out for the last time. He is now officially retired!
I asked what he was going to do with all his free time. He told me some of his plans for the future, which include a medical missionary trip to Guatemala in February to help those in need, and a much anticipated cruise down the Riviera with his lovely wife. He concluded with the words, “Those are my plans, but then again, who knows what God has in store for me.”
I nodded in agreement and said, “You know what they say, ‘if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!’”
While I may not know exactly what’s in store for him, I am confident that there will ALWAYS be a component of service to others in whatever he chooses to do. It’s just who he is.
I’ve experienced it first hand on a regular basis for some time now. He has proven himself to be far more than just a customer, he is a true friend! He let me know he felt the same way when he mentioned how much he would miss our visits and The Contributor.
At this point, I typically offer to mail the paper just to keep in touch, but with all his travel plans, I realized this wasn’t an option so I did the next best thing. I told him that much of the paper is available online and that he could get a subscription to the digital edition. I’m not sure he’ll make use of it, he just said how much he would miss our visits, and all I could say was, “Me too,” with a big ol’ lump in my throat, and fighting back tears.
When we finished talking we shared a hug (actually there were two, one for him to show gratitude for all he’d done for me, and another for him to give to his wife.)
As I spent the day reflecting on the course of our friendship, it occurred to me that he was, in fact, one of my earliest supporters. Then it hit me, the sudden conflict of emotions, on the one hand being SO happy for him to have reached this milestone in his life knowing how much he deserves the best of what’s to come, yet aware of how much I will miss his physical presence.
I am certain that the impression he’s made on me will last a lifetime, and I will ALWAYS carry that with me.
Thank you, John, for EVERYTHING! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors wherever they may take you.
Vendors: If you are blessed to have customers who regularly show they care for you, let them know how much you appreciate them, because the day may come when you can’t.
Customers/Supporters: Never underestimate the value of your visits, your acts of kindness, and generosity mean to the lives of those you come in contact with. You have the ability to make a REAL difference, to change people’s lives for the better!