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James Kimo Rosen is the Blogger-n-chief
of dakinetalk blog and lives on the cosmic island of Kaua'i with his spiritual advisor Obama Da Dog! |
This blog also appeared as an opinion article in the Christmas 2015 edition of The Garden Island News!
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-dec/article_48cdcaaf-4b0b-5719-b4c8-ed35b0f9a60e.html
I go to Kapaa Burger King 3-5 times a week to get a diet coke,and one of those times I will treat myself to french fries and use the free WiFi and just relax. I find it one of the most inviting places on the cosmic Garden isle.
They have an area of which I refer to as the 'VIP lounge,' there are four large easy type chairs and a couple small tables located away from the main seating area.
This area is highly attractive to the homeless, maybe that's why I like it, after all, I too was house-less for 7 years.
There was this man named 'Lester' that hung out there on a daily basis. I would talk story with Lester and he always had something to say about everything, usually negative.
Lester had disability for something from the VA and said he could afford a $500-600 a month to rent a room. I told him check Craigslist. He doesn't know how to use the computer and had to much anxiety to ask the librarian for assistance on the free computers.
I started printing out Craigslist rooms for rent, he would call but the room was always taken, so he said?
The last time I saw Lester, he did not look good and was complaining he was tired. I said do you want me to call 911 for you? "No!" I said you need to check into Mahelona, (the closest hospital.) He had a negative excuse, "you can't just check into a hospital," he said.
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| My friend 'Lester' at Burger King 3 days before he passed away. |
I said, brah, you don't look good. I gave him a few coupons I had for a free french fry and ice cream. I was looking for a cop on the way home to tell them they should check on this guy, I never found the cop.
I did find on the front page of the Garden Island news on Tuesday December 8, 2015, that a 62 year old homeless man was found dead in front of a business he slept at.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/body-found-in-kapaa/article_1c4a0906-9d6f-11e5-a627-4750d068739d.html
That man was Lester. I wish I could had done more, it was so obvious this man was in need.
I am not a trained professional, this man was highly visible in the public eye--if only myself or someone else had stepped up. I am starting to think what Lester really needed was a friend.
I am going to try and step up and make someone in need my friend. I cannot bring back Lester, but I can shed a tear, hoping he knew somebody cared.
Lesson learned;
All of us need to step up and make someone in need our friend. Many times they don't want money or food , just someone to talk to, who will will listen and care.
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| This meme was published on Facebook to help promote this blog! |
Editor's note,
Lester's name was officially released after contacting the next of kin;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/kapaa-body-identified/article_be61452c-be7b-5407-a2c5-45a4014e4493.html
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| James "Kimo" Rosen ~ 1976~ Santa Barbara~ Photo courtesy of John Franssen |
Editors note, The photos below were created with photos I took on an iPhone using an app called PIP!
