I used to have a job finding old water shutoff valves in peoples yards so my company could go in and put water meters on them. This job required me to do into peoples yards and start poking around in their lawns so consequently, some would come out and wonder what the eff I was doing in their yard. I really liked that job since I was alone most of the day and outside getting some exercise. Best job I could get for $13/hr.
Anyway, one day, I was in this guy's yard poking around and he pulls up in the drive way. "Can I help you?" he asks as he gets out of his car. He really didn't seem concerned because naturally, I do not look really threatening and I am always in a safety vest. People usually think I am a city worker or something.
"Lookin' for your shutoff. My company (ABC Construction) will be here next week putting meters in." I answered.
"Oh, well you're looking in the wrong spot. My shutoff is in the back. Here, come this way."
So we walk to his back yard through the side gate and he starts talking to me. He is asking about my job and I'm answering all his inquiries which are the usual questions I get anyway. I don't really ask about him at this time because I am fixated on the task. 95% of my job I worked alone so these moments where I had to talk to people were few and far between. I really just wanted to get out of there and back by myself.
It wasn't long before I hit a hard spot in the dirt. I dug about 6 inches into the ground and there it was! Valves were marked in the dirt with a steel cap that could easily be found by a metal detector and are usually buried anywhere from 1 -24 inches. I take out my marking paint and put a huge X marks the spot with a circle around it so the crew can easily find it when they come and put the meter in. Boom - Done.
Well I didn't want to just leave. The guy was quiet so I broke the silence. "So how's your day going?" Not a question that usually gets a negative response, especially from such a nice guy. I saw his face immediately change when I asked him that.
"Oh, I've had better." We start walking back to the front while he answers and make it to the sidewalk in the front before he starts again, "I actually just got back from the doctor when I drove up and he told me today that I have stage 3 pancreatic cancer." I had nothing to say. The conversation just got heavy and I was in no place to carry that weight. "Yeah.. My wife actually had the same cancer and passed away 5 years ago. I was the happiest person in the world until she was gone. Now life just plain sucks."
He looked really defeated and I didn't really feel like he was even talking to me anymore. It was more of him saying the words out loud for himself to hear. I just made sure he was done telling me and when I felt that he was, I told him that I was really sorry that happened to him and that I would pray for him. He kinda stood there for a minute and when he was ready, he kinda gave me a nod and walked back inside. I waited until he got back inside to start moving again and when I did, immediately walked back to my work truck and cried my eyes out. I have never felt a level of compassion for anybody than that guy that I met that day even though I didn't even get his name. That was in the summer of 2010 and I still wonder about him. I want to know if he made it or maybe he is with his wife. Either way, I hope he is happy today.