One of the meanest person I known, was also one of the coolest person I ever known. He was my boss at my very first real job as a car wash attendant. A Vietnam Veteran, retired military. Heavy smoker. He has a habit for abrasive behavior, but he tries to make up for it by showing compassion. One day he got into a scuffle with a worker, unfortunately he went a little too far that time. I didn't know what PTSD and how it related to Veterans was at the time, but I supposed he had that stuff. I stuck to that job for a while actually. More than 3 years for sure. It's no wonder back then all my siblings wanted me to wash their cars and do light detailing because before they can train me to be a professional detailer I found a job elsewhere.
About 5 years later, I see him again. He and his wife were regulars at the local casino. I'll usually see them when I go myself there. I don't know if he remembers me or recognizes me anymore until one day he came and sat next to me at a blackjack table, call me by name and said "any luck"? Of course I wasn't very good then, so I said sometimes, and not so much other times. He never once mention about the old car wash place..One thing he did though was constantly telling me only gamble what you can handle.
Then I stopped seeing him or his wife one day...About a year later, I moved to a different part of town and I start seeing him again. Just in and around town. He still drives that same Blue Tundra, the very first Tundra model I believe..He use to make me personally washed that truck, and only me..lols He'll wave sometimes, and sometimes he might not even see me.
Then I stopped seeing him. Years passed, and I was just flipping through old newspapes and saw his orbituary. My heart sunk for a bit.
I learned quite a bit from the guy, and picked up some of his traits too. I might scold or raised my voice sometimes at my workers, but I attempt to apologize later. Sometimes to even getting them a snack or gatorade, or giving them an extra break..haha Besides they're probably use to me and know how I operate by now so they don't take it personally. If I changed to super soft, they'd probably be disappointed. So the tradition must continue..haha h
I don't know, that's probably why I just want to live a simple life. Simplicity is beautiful. If a being a doctor, a lawyer, or something high up there is not for you, just work your ass off and live a simple life..lols
so yes, we do come across people in our lives for a reason........ ....