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.
12,105 responses to “On the death of one man”
They also include asset management for those who are too busy to manage their assets themselves.
They are also developing accurate and high-quality insurance products and insurance technology for maximum gains.
He took out an ad seeking a partner with whom to invest his money.
I simply could not leave your website prior
to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your guests?
Is going to be again regularly in order to investigate cross-check new posts
Your means of describing all in this piece of writing is actually good, every one be able
to simply be aware of it, Thanks a lot.
The theme choices are large and diversified, and very eclectic!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your weblog. You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Thanks!
It incorporates emotions and soothes those that endure from anxiety and stress.
The territory has pursued a proactive method to getting into into tax treaties and agreements with other jurisdictions, geared toward promoting transparency, stopping double taxation, and fostering cooperation in tax-associated points.
Put a little Vaseline on your French bulldog’s nose to maintain it moist and delicate and last but not least clear ears and trim nails.
In 2023, Time included the GE Profile Sensible Mixer in its listing of Greatest Innovations.
And when you get toys with eyes or buttons on them make sure to tear them off, as your French bulldog puppy can choke on these.
Chartrand, Rene. Colonial American Troops, 1610-1774, (Quantity 1), pp.
For women who are on the lookout for a bit extra adventure, Cha’s account is a great place to begin.
To this union was born one daughter, Ruth Helen RAY of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Charles E. Ranken. The Storm Prediction Middle made its first warning round 8:30 a.m., and damaging wind reviews began about 20 minutes later.
The mental property rights are owned by the Wes Craven estate.
In an announcement “Universal Orlando Resort will probably be focusing completely on operating its theme parks for daytime visitors, using the enhanced health and safety procedures already in place,” the resort stated in a information release Friday morning.
Quality content is the important to interest the visitors to pay a quick visit the web
site, that’s what this site is providing.
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for big dick
Reva was launched as the main antagonist of the primary season of Obi-Wan Kenobi, portrayed by Moses Ingram, the place, recruited to the Inquisitorius after dwelling on the streets, she secretly plots revenge against Darth Vader for killing her peers during Order 66, having survived being stabbed by means of the stomach by him in the course of the Purge, seeking to trace down and kill Vader’s former master (as Anakin Skywalker) Obi-Wan Kenobi for allowing his apprentice to fall to the darkish facet, arranging the kidnapping of Leia Organa to lure Kenobi out of hiding.
Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would
be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to
a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Hi, I desire to subscribe for this weblog to get hottest updates,
so where can i do it please assist.
What an informative and meticulously-researched article! The author’s meticulousness and ability to present complex ideas in a comprehensible manner is truly admirable. I’m extremely captivated by the breadth of knowledge showcased in this piece. Thank you, author, for sharing your knowledge with us. This article has been a game-changer!
I’ll immediately clutch your rss as I can’t to find your email
subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any?
Kindly permit me understand so that I could subscribe.
Thanks.
It’s nearly impossible to find educated people on this
topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
This article provides clear idea designed for the new users of blogging, that in fact how to do running a blog.
Hey there I am so thrilled I found your blog page, I really
found you by accident, while I was browsing on Google for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just
like to say thank you for a incredible post and a all round interesting blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it
all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also
added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much
more, Please do keep up the excellent work.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you
This piece of writing gives clear idea designed for the new people
of blogging, that in fact how to do running a blog.
The position was fully lifeless by the 28th transfer, with the remainder of the sport a formality to accede to the rules regarding draw provides.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through many of the
articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it
and checking back often!
Hello, just wanted to say, I loved this article.
It was funny. Keep on posting!
Are you somebody who drools over costly jewellery?
Next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t disappoint me just as much as this one. After all, I know it was my choice to read, nonetheless I genuinely believed you’d have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of crying about something you can fix if you weren’t too busy seeking attention.
I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today,
yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.
Appreciation to my father who told me concerning this weblog, this
blog is in fact awesome.
????????????? ?????? — ??? ?????? ??????, ??????? ????? ???????? ? ???? ??? ???????, ??? ? ?????? ???????.
? ??????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????????????, ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ? ????????? ?????? ?????:
?? ??????-??????????? ?? ?????????? ?????? – [url=https://eskortmoskva.ru/ ]????? ??? ???????[/url]
I have noticed that in digital camera models, exceptional devices help to {focus|concentrate|maintain focus|target|a**** automatically. Those kind of sensors with some surveillance cameras change in contrast, while others use a beam with infra-red (IR) light, particularly in low light. Higher standards cameras often use a mix of both techniques and likely have Face Priority AF where the digicam can ‘See’ a face while keeping focused only on that. Thank you for sharing your notions on this blog site.
Roosevelt, who partnered with Perkins to push for lasting changes to the labor system.
My mind’s not working.
This is my first time visit at here and i am actually
impressed to read all at alone place.
Awesome insights!
Loved this!
For one factor, you possibly can earn cash online from the comfort of your own home.
Many everyday products can be produced on natural farms, including vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, eggs and fibers corresponding to cotton.
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone
to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where
u got this from. many thanks
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend
your site, how could i subscribe for a blog website?
The account helped me a applicable deal. I have been a little bit acquainted of
this your broadcast offered vivid clear idea
Good job!