Old Man Lou
By Kate, age 19, New Hampshire
Sweet Designs Staff Intern
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
The drive to the horse barn consists of two very busy roads before turning onto a very bumpy in-need-of-repair road. I drive down the first 50 mph road with gas stations and businesses on each side. I go through two sets of lights before stopping at the third, blinker on, ready to take the left onto the second, slightly less busy road.
When the light turns green, I turn onto the second road, doing the posted 40 mph. This road isn't as busy as the first and has no stop lights, but cars fly around the bends all the same. It goes through the heart of a small town, where cell phone service is often lost somewhere among the trees, and most of the population are farmers of some sort. Horse and deer crossing signs appear more often than speed limit and stop signs, and cars often whiz by at speeds way beyond the posted limit.
It is on this road where I saw a man who somehow changed my life, and the lives of many others.
Every day (or so I am told) this man walks three miles up and down the road, walking to the Hannafords for his groceries, and then back home. Of course, I only see him on Mondays when I go to the barn. Nevertheless, he is there, every day, walking on the side of that busy and somewhat dangerous road. Not only does he walk, he also waves. He turns around and waves at all the cars passing behind him, and he waves at all the cars going towards him. He waves at every single car and smiles the biggest smile I've ever seen an old man smile.
At first, I thought he was crazy. Old and senile - maybe he's lost his mind. Maybe he is lost. Why is he waving and smiling? It made me giggle a bit, but I continued on my way, not thinking twice. But then I continued to see him, and eventually I waved back. I didn't think he saw me wave or paid any attention, but I waved anyway.
A few weeks later, I discovered that the old man was "Facebook famous". He had his own page! I read through every comment made by other "fans" and liked the page. I continued to check his page and read the new comments that people posted, and eventually learned his name and a little more about him.
Lou walks around waving and smiling, and apparently saying "God Bless" to every car that goes by.
I was touched by all the comments I read about him. All the "God Blesses" and "Be Safes". Not only was this random old man Facebook famous, with 400 something followers, but he is an angel and a friend to complete strangers. Currently, he has 500 "fans", and more are being added every day.
I'm not someone who believes in God, but I do believe in Lou. This man has made so many people smile, and he cares so much about the rude and careless jerks that fly by him every day. He gives me hope that there are others just as kind as him, and the next time I see him I want to give him my biggest thanks. Thank you, Lou! You have no idea how many people you make smile every day. :)
