This is the story of a walking man. This man was known to me first as that…a walking man. You see, he’d walk past my house, daily, on the other side of the street. From where I stood I saw a man with a slight smile, and a smooth gait. I would think to myself, there he is again…the walking man.
Well, one sunny Denver day, the walking man looked over and saw me in my yard, and slowly, with so much grace it was inspiring, crossed the street. My life changed that instant.
He introduced himself, “Hello I’m Dwight”. My thoughts up close were that the smile I had only glimpsed across the street was truly disarming when you were up close. He also had a set of piercing blue eyes, which along with his grey hair, and blue jacket, completed the picture of perfection. As we started to chat and get to know one another, I found out some things that made the walking man more complete. He was a devout man. He had a wife of many many years, who was in poor health at the time, he had a family spread around the country and globe whom he loved dearly. He was a veteran of at least one war, he was a mechanic, and, he walked. It allowed him to clear his head he said. He’d walk 1 1/2 miles past, then on his return, the same. After I got to know him that day, he would make a point to cross the street, always with that same grace, and stand and talk for a while. He would chat with anyone who happened to be outside at the time. And always with a smile.
Dwight reminded me that first day that we are all connected. I felt a connection to him immediately. We are all one. It is important to realize that at all times. So many people walk past my house on a daily basis. They are all me, and I am all them. Dwight brought clarity to that for me. He was an amazing, kind, warmhearted soul, whom I enjoyed spending time with…as little as it was sometimes. He had become a role model to me almost immediately.
I was informed today that Dwight passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2015. He was 93. I was so shocked that he was gone…which seems silly considering what a full life he lived…but he was the Walking Man.
I took some time to say goodbye to him at his service today…and I was brought to tears. Some were selfish tears, but most, were tears of overwhelming joy. His service was full of people that I had never met, only heard about through stories. He had such a full tribe of people in his life who so obviously loved him. It was a breath taking sight. I got to finally meet his wife Joan, and some of his other family. Dwight was everywhere in that room. And that was just perfect. A role model in life, and now, a role model in death.
We all have walking men in our lives. I am thankful that mine locked eyes and crossed the street.
Rest In Peace Dwight Weeks.
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