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.
12,049 responses to “On the death of one man”
2. Bond (mounted-revenue) funds are a bit much less risky than stock.
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no hesitation very shortly it will be famous, due to its
feature contents.
When constructing your wooden enclosure, make certain to make use of stress-treated wood or hardwood.
“I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i’m glad to exhibit that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much certainly will make certain to don?t forget this site and provides it a look on a relentless basis.”
We hope no logos in this quiz raise any crimson flags for you!
Jack Nitzsche, who recorded the Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” Deciding that the monitor wanted a female voice, he summoned soul singer Merry Clayton, pushing her to exhaustion despite the fact that she was pregnant at the time.
Published by accounting firm Grant Thornton, The Global Dynamism Index recently rated Singapore as the top business location in the world.
Brennan echoed his prior interest in getting the brand new passenger station and freight facilities that the city needed.
Relaxation days were to take place after games 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11.
Excellent blog post. I absolutely appreciate this site. Keep it up!
Hi there, I enjoy reading all of your article. I like to write a little comment to support you.
Fantastic items from you, man. I have have in mind your stuff previous to and you are
simply extremely excellent. I actually like what you have
got here, certainly like what you’re saying and the best
way through which you assert it. You’re making it entertaining and you
continue to take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read
much more from you. That is really a tremendous website.
These may include investors, partners, the public, or others who want to be the stakeholders.
Regardless of having a no-trade clause within the contract, gamers have typically demanded to be traded after which use the no-trade clause to pick out a preferable destination crew, although this wouldn’t give the utmost value to the staff he is departing.
SEO backlinks
Hey there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so
I came to take a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m
bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Terrific blog and great design.
At the end of 2014, the group of states eligible to receive OMT support had been only Portugal and Eire.
Not many people know however Peugeot is actually one of many oldest automotive manufacturers on the earth.
Tibetan turquoise and chinese language turquoise usually have spider net sample on the surface (seen matrix) and are consequently used usually for making type jewellery.
For many who make the change, nonetheless, comfort and de-cluttering are payoff enough.
Completion of a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Legionella risk assessment has long been a requirement under ACOP L8 (the original ACOP being published in ’91 and HSG 70 before that).
I simply couldn’t go away your web site before suggesting that I
extremely loved the standard information an individual provide for
your visitors? Is going to be again incessantly to check
out new posts
In 1779, he had learned by way of his friend Jonathan Odell and British Secret Service agent John André that Benedict Arnold was secretly defecting to the British.
The 45-page report by RNCOS provides an in-depth research and rational analysis of the current status and forecast for the CNG vehicles in India.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is required to get setup?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a
pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100%
positive. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Appreciate it
A foreign direct investment (FDI) refers to purchase of an asset in another country, such that it gives direct control to the purchaser over the asset (e.g.
Hey there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website?
I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with
hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
The CED movie is listed in Star Wars collectors guides, so there is competition from Star Wars collectors who are primarily fascinated within the caddy artwork (the Star Trek and Elvis CED titles are in an identical scenario).
Investing in stocks is the best choice for those who want to earn some hefty profits within a very little time.
Yellow or marigold with the purple or green or purple shade mixture is the most well-liked one.
Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to take a look.
I’m definitely loving the information. I’m
book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Wonderful blog and terrific style and design.
In case you are out there available in the market, fascinated with buying inventory choices as an funding method, you in all probability want to get inventory choices defined with a little extra detail.
Gregorie. The adjustments made for a much prettier automotive than both Tjaarda’s prototypes or the curved-nostril Airflow, yet the essential form remained extra slippery than the Airflow’s despite the fact that it wasn’t “styled within the wind tunnel” like portions of the Chrysler design.
Climb First is another Banking Coaching Class in Nagpur, Mumbai.
Other downhill runs had been added, and Mount Revelstoke hosted many international competitions in the first half of the century.
Right here is the perfect blog for anybody who hopes
to understand this topic. You know a whole lot
its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa).
You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for decades.
Excellent stuff, just wonderful!
I wanted to thank you for this good read!! I certainly
loved every bit of it. I’ve got you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
What iTunes can’t match, you’ll be able to add to iCloud.
After looking at a handful of the articles on your web page, I honestly like your
technique of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark site list and will
be checking back soon. Please check out my website too and tell me how you feel.
Right Now All the Stock Indices are going pretty fine whether it’s TA 75, TA Midcap or Blue Tech 50.
Later that day, Gates’ division arrived in camp, which by then included solely 600 Continental Army forces following the end of many enlistments, to secure the northern frontier.
After going over a number of the blog articles on your site, I seriously like your technique of blogging. I saved it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my website as well and tell me what you think.
I feel this is among the most important info for me. And i
am satisfied reading your article. But want to commentary on some
general things, The web site taste is wonderful, the articles is in reality great : D.
Good activity, cheers
If the first trams only had a low-flooring section of seven and a depth rise of 5 doors, the second low-floor technology in 1994 had a low-floor section of 48 p.c and barrier-free entry to a few out of the four doorways.
As per the Insurance coverage Act, fifty p.c of investments made by an insurance coverage compny must be in authorities securities and about fifteen p.c in infrastructure related areas.
Adult kids residing at house is a extra frequent tradition in European nations, but the rise had been particularly stark within the recession-period United States, the place leaving dwelling is taken into account a young adulthood rite of passage.
Real estate can be tricky yet rewarding: One of the best yet most risk-bearing investments, real estate can rise to soaring high prices or completely collapse!
Likewise, traders with a lower threat tolerance desire to carry relatively more bonds in their portfolio, as barring default their capital is returned at the end of the funding, and they are not so liable to unstable worth swings.
11 November 1978: Birmingham City document their first League win of the season at the fourteenth attempt, 5-1 at house to Manchester United.
Excellent blog you have here but I was curious about if you knew
of any forums that cover the same topics talked about
here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get comments from other knowledgeable people that share the same
interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Thanks a lot!