Two strangers overcome one bad idea

I don't know what (or if) I was thinking. I am in my mid-60s and decided to try and push an old refrigerator upstairs from the basement by myself. After wrestling it to the bottom of the staircase and attempting to "slide" it up the stairs, I decided that this was a very bad idea. I decided to take a walk outside to mull over my options.

As I was walking through the neighborhood, I saw one of our local scavengers driving down the street looking for scrap metal. On a whim I flagged him down and queried, "Do you want an old refrigerator?" Between my poor Spanish, his passable English and his teenage daughter, I was able to communicate that he could have the refrigerator if he would help me carry it up from the basement. Even with two of us, it was quite a challenge. We were able to get it upstairs and out to his truck.

We chatted a bit after we were through, laughing a bit and patting ourselves on the back for a job well done. He wanted to know why I was leaving such a nice home and neighborhood. I explained that we were moving into a smaller home. Our two children had grown and moved out on their own. He told me his children were growing up and would be leaving home soon too.

I am not sure what my new friend's immigration status is, nor do I care. This man was scouring the neighborhood streets in search of something of value to help his family, and he ended up helping me. Not a murderer, drug dealer or rapist. A hard- working family man willing to help a stranger in need.

Greg Newlin

Naperville