22 Comments
Jan 9Liked by Heather Brebaugh

I see a man in a trench coat wading into the high surf and I think suicide. I was sure wrong! What a charming old guy -- and determined to live until he dies! Good inspiration, Heather. I had an adventure yesterday - I took a ride on a local city bus. Plotted out a test run to see how complicated it is to get where I need to go. I am thinking of giving up driving. You'd have thought I was going to New York. ha ha ha It was something entirely new to me. So I guess that counts?

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Oh, that's definitely a possible thought for Bruce. I can totally see how you thought that.

Your bus adventure sounds like fun! We have the MTS system around San Diego/Oceanside. It's awesome...but also really confusing. There are so many lines, all numbered, and it's a challenge to figure out which number goes where. Is that how yours works around Santa Cruz? I'd love to hear what route you tested! Is the bus system pretty broad?

Last year I was in Oceanside without a car for 10 days. I needed to get to the local COX store and found a bus that went from our transit station to their parking lot. First time I had tried it. It takes longer, but it worked out great and as a bonus I got some walking in. Now we've taken the train and then the bus to the San Diego Natural History Museum....aren't we brave haha!

I love the idea of not driving!

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Jan 9Liked by Heather Brebaugh

Suicide would have been my first thought as well. That's what the photo looked like.

However, if I saw him daily doing the same, I would have thought madman.

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Jan 9Liked by Heather Brebaugh

Well, by normal standards, he is a sort of mad man. In a good way. I am not entirely sure I want to be normal by todays standards. Do you?

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Jan 9Liked by Heather Brebaugh

Lol nope.

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First impression ... interesting guy. I wanted to talk to him, to ask questions. Lovely post

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That's an awesome first impression!

Thanks so much for reading about Bruce.

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Thanks for sharing him with us. Say hi from us over in France 👋

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Thanks for refreshing the idea that everybody has a story. Nice to meet Bruce,,,

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Jan 9·edited Jan 9Liked by Heather Brebaugh

Lovely story. Thank you for sharing.

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Thank you Marian. Bruce is really an inspiration.

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Ugh. His coat is too big on him so I thought, Homeless guy. Love his childlike creativity, his wisdom in knowing he needs a community as he ages.

Thx for this reminder. ❤️

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His coat weighs 75 pounds when he gets soaked. Yikes!

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It’s a work out cloak. 😉

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My first impression was that he was depressed, but I was so wrong! I wonder if our judgements day something about us? Like, that I thought he was depressed- what does that say about me? 🤔

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Hmm, that's a great question. Do we see ourselves in the flaws we see in others?

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Just love this article! 💕

" You have to do what you enjoy"

Such good advice ✨

Thanks for sharing Heather and reminding us not to judge 🙏

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Hi Janet. Thanks so much for reading about Bruce. He's such an inspiration.

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My first impression was, "This is a guy I need to talk down." You did a great job of showing the problem with assumptions. Very interesting post with a very important takeaway. There are so many instances in my life where I've judged a reaction to something, only to find out that I misjudged. But you did a "show, don't tell post" which is always appreciated.

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Feb 1·edited Feb 1Liked by Heather Brebaugh

My first thought was "It must really be cold where he is. And if it is, why is he getting in the water?" The way he's staring, I thought maybe he was saving someone. LOL But thank you for sharing his story. I feel like there could be a real story there. And by real, I mean romance fiction where "Bruce" ends up befriending the FMC on the beach and the next thing you know he's introducing her to his grandson... huh. <gets out notebook and writes down story idea and saves this link for later>

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Yes, I would love to read that story....especially if you wrote it!

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Feb 2Liked by Heather Brebaugh

I may have to now! LOL

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