I met Bob Shimeld only once, several years ago, on a bus. We chatted for all of 15 minutes, if that, but the conversation stuck with me. I never forgot him.
It was a summer morning in Longview, Texas, and the bus picked up Shimeld in front of a Walmart store on the north side. Boarding took longer than usual because the driver had to get up and help Shimeld with his electric wheelchair. The back of his chair, I noticed, had been decorated with a Massachusetts novelty license plate that read B-O-B, for Bob.
Shimeld said he moved from the Northeast about five years earlier to escape the winters in his home state. “If you stay still too long, your wheelchair will freeze to the ground,” he joked. “No snow tires for a wheelchair.”
He claimed to have thrown a dart at a map of Texas. The dart hit Longview, so that’s where he went. He liked the place. The people were friendly. He was a 72-year-old military veteran who described his days as “a lot of sitting around,” which was easy enough to do in a wheelchair.
I got off the bus a few stops after Shimeld boarded, and I never saw him again. After that day, I also never got back on the bus. When I am in East Texas and need to make a grocery run, or want to go to a restaurant or anywhere else, I hop in my Jeep or ride with someone else. Our cities are built for getting around with a car. My only reason for riding the bus on that day was to visit with the passengers of Longview Transit for a story that appeared in the newspaper.
The passengers I met included elderly retirees who could no longer drive safely. Other passengers worked the kinds of low-paying jobs that help keep the rest of our lives running smoothly: a grocery store cashier, for example, and a hairdresser with epilepsy. One man named John Solomon had just finished his shift scrubbing dishes at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. His hands, wrists and forearms were peeling badly from the soapy water, but he hadn’t noticed. He was traveling home to spend the evening with his young son and daughter.
Most of the people I met that day were dealing with less-than-ideal circumstances, but they were upbeat and optimistic about their futures. They had jobs and homes, and they talked about their determination to better their lives. They seemed to make Longview a richer place. Somehow they managed to do it all without a vehicle, a complication that most of us would never consider.
That was in 2009. Shimeld died on Dec. 16. I read about his death in the newspaper. He was trying to cross McCann Road near a busy intersection not far from K-Mart when a pickup turned onto the road and struck him.
The News-Journal reported that Shimeld was the sixth pedestrian killed in the city in 2014. That’s three times the average death rate for pedestrians in Texas, the paper also reported. A subsequent editorial described the “grim realities of the danger while walking” and noted that municipal officials are aware of the problem and are planning to address it in the city’s next comprehensive plan. Well, good.
Where Shimeld died, the intersection does not have a crosswalk. Lots of the city’s intersections don’t, because so few people need them. But some do. People like Shimeld. I’ll try not to forget that.
13,865 responses to “On the death of one man”
Hello everyone, it’s my first visit at this web page,
and article is truly fruitful in favor of me, keep up posting these
types of articles or reviews.
I’ll immediately snatch your rss as I can not to find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service.
Do you’ve any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe.
Thanks.
Spot on with this write-up, I truly believe this website needs much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the advice!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your
useful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly
return.
The essence of a quality sex doll lies not only in its physical appearance but in the overall experience it provides.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make
your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could
be giving us something informative to read?
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my website so i got here to return the prefer?.I am attempting to in finding issues to improve my
site!I assume its ok to use a few of your concepts!!
These are truly enormous ideas in on the topic of blogging.
You have touched some good points here. Any way keep
up wrinting.
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website offered us with valuable info
to work on. You have done a formidable job and our
whole community will be grateful to you.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
We stumbled over here by a different website and thought
I should check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.
Look forward to exploring your web page again.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in truth was once a leisure account it. Glance complex to far introduced agreeable from you! By the way, how could we keep in touch?
Fastidious respond in return of this question with genuine arguments and explaining all on the topic of that.
each time i used to read smaller posts that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this
article which I am reading here.
I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Perfectly written!
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this fantastic blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
I’m in awe of the author’s capability to make intricate concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds. This article is a testament to his expertise and commitment to providing valuable insights. Thank you, author, for creating such an engaging and illuminating piece. It has been an incredible joy to read!
This is a topic which is near to my heart…
Best wishes! Exactly where are your contact details though?
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????151??????????????4?10???????????????????????????????????????4?24???155??26???157?????29????????160????????????????????????
?????????????????????? – ????????????????????????? – ????????????
– JR?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
For most recent information you have to pay a quick
visit world wide web and on the web I found this site as a best web site for
most up-to-date updates.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this kind of house .
Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site.
Reading this information So i am satisfied to exhibit that
I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out just
what I needed. I so much undoubtedly will make sure to don?t put
out of your mind this website and give it a look on a relentless basis.
???????26????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 2023?8?19? (?) 12:40 ???????????????UTC?? 2?10?
– ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? IS???????????IS????
???????????????????????????? 2008?9?9????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????954?????? – 2003?10??2005?9??????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????? –
???????????????????.
?????4?29??????????????????????????????????????????????????????.
2022?3?4???? 2021???????????????????????1?1?ID??????????????? 5?1???????????????????? 4?20???billboard classics 20th
Anniversary Mai Kuraki premium symphonic concert 2019????????????????????
??????????????
??127?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and
tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop,
just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad
is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off
topic but I had to share it with someone!
??4??3????????????.?????????????4?1??????????? – ?????????”. “????????????? – ?????????”. “???????????????????
– ?????????”.?????????. ???.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Mito : ???? ??3??2021??2?15?? ?1496????? ???2021?2?15??2??
“??????????????????????????”.
“?????????60??????????????”.
“????????????????????? ?????????????????????????PDF??????????????????2022?4?11?? ?3? 14 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????? ??????????????? ??????????????????2009??44?????????? ???????????????
??????????????????2009??44-45??
Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working
with? I’m going to start my own blog in the
near future but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
I will right away grab your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me understand so that I
may just subscribe. Thanks.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????II????????? “??????????”.
??????????????.??????????????????????????????????
???UV??????????????????26000?????????????890mm????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
JR?????ICOCA??????????????2003?11???5?????100?????????????2019?11?15????.?????
– ???????????? (2018?5?1?).
2024?6?14????????????????? ???? ????? ??2??????????? – ???????????????????????????????????? ???? ??? ????4??????? – ????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????IC????????????????????????????????????? : EZ????EX????????
???? ?????????????? ????????????????????????????????????? “????????????????–???????????????????”.??10?4??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
1912? – ???????????????????????????????? 8? – ??????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? 2???????????????????????????
Hello, i feel that i saw you visited my weblog so
i came to return the choose?.I’m trying to to find issues to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use some
of your ideas!!
For latest news you have to visit web and on internet I found this site as a most
excellent website for latest updates.
hi sir i ready this plz check my site: ???? ???? ????? ??????? ?????
??? ??????? ??? ?? ??????????? ????????
???? ??????????? ????? ???.??? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???.?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???????? ?? ?????? ????????
?????? ?????? ???.????? ??? ????
????? ?? ???? ????? ?????
????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?
???? ???????? ????? ??????.idehgostar.co
When someone writes an post he/she retains the idea of a user in his/her brain that how a
user can know it. So that’s why this post is great.
Thanks!
??????? ????? ???? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ? ????? ??? ??????? ??????.
??? ??? ????? ???? ? ?????? ????? 3 ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????
?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ?????????? ???????.
?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ????? ??
????? ????? ????. ?? ???? ?? ????? ?
???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???????????? ? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????.
??????? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ???????????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ? ??????
???? ? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??????.
I have read so many posts concerning the blogger lovers
except this post is in fact a nice post, keep it up.
I have read several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a magnificent informative website.
Thanks , I have recently been looking for info approximately this subject for a while and
yours is the best I have discovered till now.
However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive
about the supply?
hi sir i ready this plz check my site: ???? ???? ????? ??????? ?????
Definitely imagine that that you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to
be on the internet the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to
you, I definitely get irked even as other folks consider issues that they plainly
don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as smartly as defined out the entire thing
with no need side effect , folks could take a signal. Will likely be again to get more.
Thank you
??????????Visa Business Pay? “??????”???????????????????????????? ??? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????