I am Honored

I was walking that day from Jackson to the Grand Tetons and had stepped off the road to talk to my sister by phone. While talking, an aged car with Idaho plates drove up and parked beside my trailer patiently waiting for me to finish. I’m ashamed to say that in my mind - the Beverly Hillbillies had just arrived and I wondered what could they possibly want? The car, slightly rusted with its sun-bleached paint, was one of those old Chrysler-type models that easily seats a family of seven. In it sat a diminutive gray-haired woman with her three grandchildren. Walking over I introduced myself and shared a little about my cross-country walk. She said that she delivered weekly newspapers to supplement her income and had first seen me in Rexburg, Idaho. Now, here I was again and this time she just had to stop. As I began talking she politely asked me to pause for a moment. She then ordered the three children out of the car telling them to stand alongside and to give me their full attention. They dutifully complied and as a teacher I did my best to make it an interesting but brief lesson on the importance of the constitution and our civil liberties. My momentary pupils - aged 14, 10, and 8, each kept one eye on me and a wary other on Grandma. She, in turn, kept both eyes on them giving the impression that this small elderly matron kept strict but loving order in her house. Thanking me, she seemed unable to stop lavishing praise and placed in my hand a wrinkled $5.00 bill. I told her I couldn’t accept it but she proudly insisted folding it back into mine. As she drove away she told me it was an honor for her to have met me.
I replied that it was I - who was honored by having met her.
I stand today a more humbled American.

4 comments:

  1. Your posts and stories of your adventures, give me hope that there are still many, that love this country and the constitution. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Ray, reading this post brought me to tears, I too want to take a moment to thank you for
    supporting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights...and for being a proud and yet humble American. Thank you for teaching the value and importance of the constitution and our civil liberties.
    God Bless you on your journey, Deborah Hart

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  3. Even on the road your teaching teens. Just can't get away from it can you? :) Those kids better have been grateful! Good luck Mr. Brown!

    --Margaret Hibdon

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  4. Hi Ray,
    I am glad to read that I wasn't the only one with tears in my eyes when I read this. I got shafted by the school board this past July and I have to say it is good for me to read about people who are shoing such kindness and caring to you.
    Love you,
    Beth

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