Because one day I could be him.

[Kyanimal]

I suspect everything I post longer than two lines is always "my longer post" because it reads as long as a whole book... chapter.

Uh ... Yes!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[Croynan]

So basically, rather than just helping the old man, you were pitying yourself.

do you always reek of such great sensitivity?

CCCP

eM.

 

[Críostóir]

[/COLOR][/B]do you always reek of such great sensitivity?

CCCP.

eM.

Some people are completely free of encumbering things like compassion, and because they know this is seen as a defect, they like to convince themselves that no one else has any either.

 

[belamy]

Some people are completely free of encumbering things like compassion, and because they know this is seen as a defect, they like to convince themselves that no one else has any either.

"Encumbering"? You are the one to label compassion like that... maybe it's you the one to find morals cumbersome.
I only care about people, and I leave morals to liers.

 

[belamy]

do you always reek of such great sensitivity?

CCCP

eM.

If you find tha that my hypersensitivity "reeks", that tells a lot about what you may consider "sensitivity"...

 

[neruda]

I still maintain it was good of you to do what you did.
But here's another take:

You can't have been scared of being old and alone only coz you're gay, right?
Wont you have a pretty good bank account when you retire?
I mean if we're smart and savvy and deal with life right, old age cant be too bad....
And why can't we make it to a good old folks home?
Lotsa single old doddering straights there, aren't there?

I mean is this thread just about getting old
Or about getting old and gay .... and possibly rejected.....

 

[cyclops35]

<------- Gives Jasun a great big Nice job, your very kind and your random act of kindness will never be un-noticed. When your that mans age some will be there to show you that same kindness.

 

[ronboy]

Jasun,

You have just proven again why you are one of my favorite people here at JUB! You have a big heart, and showed compassion for your fellow man! That deserves a "special favor" from Sir Ron whenever you are ready to collect.....

 

[G-Lexington]

I've always thought one of the worst reasons in the world to have children is "I want someone to look after me when I'm old". Really? You want to create and train an elderly care worker for eighteen years, in the hopes they come out well enough that they'll feel guilty enough to look after you when you're infirm? Wouldn't it be better to squirrel some money away for a nurse?

Lex

 

[hawkia]

Jasun is JUB's M&M.... hard on the outside...melts on the inside. It's your passion that gives it away. Cheers!

 

[Croynan]

If you find tha that my hypersensitivity "reeks", that tells a lot about what you may consider "sensitivity"...

​

CCCP

eM.

 

[Jeimuzu]

Gay or not, we should have a support system. We should care for other human beings. I will have a support system. I'm going to be a teacher. I'm going to adopt. I will have other people in my life, and they will care for and respect me.

I don't think that man's that miserable anyways. He's probably perfectly happy. Anyways, maybe he did have kids. They're just out of town at the moment? Maybe they live miles away and see him every other weekend. He has a bad back and struggles to walk. Yes, we'll probably get like this. I intend to walk until I can't walk anymore, then I'll get a wonderful little motor scooter and rocket around town, probably high on drugs (I believe that all over-65s should be given free access to recreational drugs ;])...

 

[Telstra]

I was pulling out of the parking lot at the Pleasure Chest today and while I was waiting for a space to pull into traffic, there was a quiet knock on my window.

A very old man stood there and said something. I couldn't hear. I turned off my radio and rolled down my window.

In a very thick Russian Jewish accent he asked if I could give him a ride to Fairfax. For those who don't know the area, that's about half a mile. A short walk along a rather nice city street. Not too busy and lots of Russian Jewish Mom and Pop stores along what we call "the barrel of the gun" neighbourhood in West Hollywood.

I paused for just a moment before I said "yes."

I opened the door and saw that he was walking with a cane. He very slowly and carefully got into the car. In very broken English he said the equivalent of, " Sorry. Thankyou. Been walking as long as I could and I can't go any further. I broke my back late last year."

I pulled into traffic and started to drive. It was rush hour and it took about 5 minutes.

I know that as a gay man... that could very well eventually be me in 40 years. No children, no support system, no family to look after me. Being reduced to asking someone I don't know for a ride because I just can't bring myself to walk another half a mile. And let's face it... he's a Russian Jewish man. I look like a Nazi skin head to many men his age. I'm sure I'm the last one he wanted to ask for help.

It was on my way. It didn't take me any more time than the couple minutes it took to allow him to get into and back out of the car.

But it made me feel both good and very sad.

Because one day I could be him.

well, i would do the same, it doesn't cost me anything.

 

[G-Lexington]

>>>Doesn't change the out come, though, does it?

Well, it does come down to paying someone (somehow) to care for me. But I can guarantee my method means less responsibility, less heartache, and it's hellaciously cheaper.

Lex

 

[swerve]

WOW!!!

Thanks for sharing an AWESOME part of your day!!!

It put a smile on MY face as well...

Kind of reminds me of that saying (by someone WAY smarter than me) that "Society is only as strong as its weakest" -- something like that...

I hope that karma hits you 10 fold!!!

 

[belamy]

 

[tallguy297]

You can't have been scared of being old and alone only coz you're gay, right?
Wont you have a pretty good bank account when you retire?
I mean if we're smart and savvy and deal with life right, old age cant be too bad....
And why can't we make it to a good old folks home?
Lotsa single old doddering straights there, aren't there?

I mean is this thread just about getting old
Or about getting old and gay .... and possibly rejected.....

I really think the bigger picture here is that despite most of our best efforts theres a very real chance that a lot of us will wont be able to live out our senior years the way you describe Neruda.

Whether or not Jasun, or you or me is filthy rich or a pauper when our time comes, being alone without the comfort and support of a family network is terrifying to most of us. Money is no comfort, nor is the best nurse or doctor when you lie awake and reflect on your life at night.

The idea of having a family to look after you in old age that some have mentioned, is a concept rooted firmly in the 3rd world... and for good reason. They have no other support mechanisms.

We're all going to get old, and we'll all have our times of reflection. Jasuns sentiment is something I think about often and wonder just how to prevent that from being me and others. And to be honest I just dont know the answer.

Alone I might be able to handle.

Sad, regretfull and angry on top of that just cant happen.

And what Jasun did here, his other acts, his values I honestly dont think is about narricsim.

Its about knowing that when all is said and done, you made some sort of difference. Big or small it doesnt matter. Just knowing that you tried, you did what you could and were true to what you believed in has to be enough. Its about hoping that someone with the same values and ideals will be around when you need them.

Because if we as a community cant help ourselves knowing the full range of issues that face us far better than we can explain it to someone else...then who can?

 

[LongBeachBill]

I would like to think I would have done the same thing. Living in L.A, it's easy to panic or at lease tense up when someone approches your car, let alone knocks on the window.

 

[TheTalkingAsshole]

Thanks for letting us know you're such a nice guy...I wouldn't have guessed that on my own. (Kidding, kidding)

And I don't worry about dying alone. I'm close with my friends and family. And, my partner is 14 years younger than me, so it's pretty well understood that he'll be around after I'm gone.

 

[moglytarzan]

Looking for a boy with big heart