I met Bill couple of days ago and I must admit I was relieved, it’s been weeks since I last saw him. It was a foggy morning, 7.45 and I was on my way to work. I heard him before I saw him, although he didn’t sound quite himself. He has a string of people he talks to on his way to and from the local shop, mostly women with nice smiles.
Over the years I’ve seen him go from walking slowly to using a stick, then a wheelie frame with space for his bread and milk. All change again, he purred towards me in a mobility scooter, grinning from ear to ear. We were equally happy to see each other, he told me that his scooter cost £240 and his friends had chipped in to help pay for it. He laughed when I complemented him on his choice of bright, shiny blue, that matched his sweater. He’d hardly been going anywhere until he got it.
He looked tired bless him, but he’s still looking after himself and can scoot to see his lady friend now. The last time i did see him he told me proudly that he won’t see 90 again’
Here’s a post from a few years ago about him.
I’ve tried to speak to an elderly man who lives around the corner and walks to the local shop most days but he doesn’t make eye contact with me at all. I always smile hopefully. He leans heavily on his stick and is slow as if in pain. He must be well into his eighties and seems so miserable and alone. I wonder if he has anyone in his life. It’s not just me that he ignores – there is another man his age that he passes by without any acknowledgment.
Elderly man number two is a darling. He has a beaming open face with a warm smile and I also see him most mornings, in fact if I miss him for a few days I start to wonder. He also has a stick because he has very bad joints. He’s very happy to talk about his ailments, he has…
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Lucid Gypsy 
Good for him! Loneliness is a real problem for old people, so good for him being active and communicative!
I remember your original post about Bill. So glad he’s doing well and that the scooter seems to have given him a new lease on life. 😍
Life – a difficult game! n like in any game, the next level is even more challenging!! And battling it all alone is… this thought is what was nagging me as I was trying to pen out something for “ comeback” prompt.
Pl read if free – https://heartoheart2017.wordpress.com/2018/10/04/come-back-come-back-he-cried-in-grief/
How fabulous. I should show this to a friend who is delaying getting his scooter until he really really needs it, in meanwhile his life is becoming more and more housebound. Scooters are the way to go!
Very uplifting. Give him an extra smile from me next time you see him!
Will do 🙂
Awwww … I have a wheelie frame I use when I go for long walks or to parks sometimes on the cruises we take. It depends on how bad my knees are. I like that name. We just call them walkers. It sounds like all of his friends wanted to make sure he could be as mobile as he could for as long as he could. : ) I’m off to read the story.
So glad he got a scooter！
me too!
How fabulous for your friend Gilly .. a new scooter! 🙂
So important to chat to these people if they will allow. Well done. Xx