Christmas Observation

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Christopher (front) and Nico Disney cruising on the Dream. (Nov. 2, 2016)

December 22, 2016


Observation is a good skill set to have when you're a police officer. The skill is honed as time on the job progresses. It has become a perfect tool that officers can use while on patrol to look for unusual or out-of-place things.


On a Tuesday evening at around 5 PM, I was parked in the parking lot of a gas station. I parked my police car in a good spot that would allow me to feel safe while I did my paperwork, and I could watch the people come and go from this huge and busy fueling station.

My eyes trained on a guy in a blue shirt. He was around 6 foot 2 inches, thin, his white skin was weathered, his hair receding. His eyes were as blue as his shirt. I could tell he was tired even though he hadn't left since I last saw him at around 8 AM that morning. While I stared at him from the safety of my police car, I noticed a man handing him a beer as the man left the convenience store. He read the blue man's lips mouth, "Thank you," and he cracked the beer open and took a gulp.

I pulled my car forward and parked. I got out of my car, walked over to the man in the blue shirt, and started a conversation.

"Dude, you can't drink that in front of the store. They will call the police and have me trespass you from the property."

"I know, man. It has been a long day for me." My blue shirt friend said.

Cars kept coming and going out of the parking lot. People walked past us and only gave us glances as they walked inside. It is a busy Christmas season, for sure.

"What's your story, man? Why are you on the streets?"

"This man," he said, holding up his beer.

"How old are you? I can tell you you aren't that old, but time hasn't been good on you."

"I'm 40," he said with a sip of his beer. "I want to be better, and I burned many bridges. I'm just not strong enough to stop this."

"How many rehabs have you been in? And how many bridges have you burned?"

"I have been to too many rehabs to count. But I can tell you that I burned 2 bridges. My mom and my brother's bridges are gone. They won't help me now."

"It's Christmas. Have you thought of reaching out?"

"My mom is going to bring me dinner later. My brother, well, he's another story. He has helped me many times. Too many times, and I have hurt him the most. I have stolen from him and argued with him, and he won't deal with me anymore."

I leaned up against the railing. The smell of gasoline filled the air. The Florida weather was too warm to enjoy the Christmas spirit of music blaring out on the overhead speakers.

"I can't change your life in this 10-minute conversation when your loved ones have tried to do it in a lifetime," I said, looking beyond his receding hairline and over at the people walking inside the store.

"But you can plant a seed," he said.

My eyes locked in on him, and thoughts ran rampant in my mind, trying desperately to say the right words that may help me cultivate any advice I give him that will help him survive another year on the streets.

"I have 2 sons," I said. "I love them with all my heart and would do anything for them. But there comes a time when I won't be here to help them make a good or even the right decision. But imagine if you were my son, even though we are the same age, and I would look at you and say, 'You, son, are worthy of so much more in this hard life. Nobody can help you fight the demons that run rampant in your soul. Only you can fight to get healthy because no one cares more than me.' I don't know if that will help you, but I know life goes quickly. Make the right choice."

I allowed him to finish his beer. He looked at his watch and said, "I have to go get food from my mom. She still feeds me."

"You're lucky you have a mom. Wouldn't it be nice for her to have a son?"

He got on his bike, and we exchanged fist bumps.

"Your kids are lucky to have you as a dad."

"It isn't luck. It's hard work to raise those boys. I just want the best for them. And if I didn't want the best for you, I would have just told you to get off the property before you go to jail."

There was a tear in his eye. He wiped his face and drove off on his bike. I turned away. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" began to play on the radio. I got into my police car and called my sons.

"Daddy," the little voice said on the other end of the phone.

"Hi, son, I love you and your brother," I said.

We talked about nothing, but it was everything for me. My boys were still little boys. My little boys had the world at their fingertips, and I could even see how lucky I was from my safe parking spot in this busy gas station.


I would like to wish everyone a very wonderful Christmas or Holiday. And remember to love those who make your world happy. I love the ones that do it for me with all my heart. Merry Christmas!


Pirate night on the Disney Cruise (Nov 3, 2016)


951 words

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