liveforwater: My Hero

I met a true hero today. Author Richard LeMieux who wrote Breakfast at Sally's on a $5 typewriter at a local park while living in his car for 18 months. Mr. LeMieux was one of the homeless population in Bremerton, living in his car with his dog Willow the Wonder Dog, even while Jeff and I were bemoaning the difficulties of finding a house in our price range, living at our home on the canal and planning a wedding. It is entirely possible that we crossed paths with this gentleman and the other people in his book as we walked to the ferry to take Noah and Lydia to Seattle every other weekend. We may still pass them on our outings around Bremerton and Kitsap County. Jeff and I had the privelege of listening to and speaking with Mr. LeMieux today at the Port Orchard library and oh what an experience it was. This man has truly been given a mission by God and he is carrying it out with grace, dignity and humbleness. There were possibly 50 people jammed into the tiny conference room and overflowing into the children's library, all there to here his story. Some had read his book and some had not. All of us were greeted personally by him as we took our seats and he made eye contact with each and every one of us as he spoke. I have rarely experience such a meeting with a soul of his caliber. He would often tear up while sharing certain aspects of his experiences, but he did not hold back and was up front about his life and his personal trials, from his attempted suicide that was derailed by Willow, to his rejection by his children and wife and "friends". He talked about why people panhandle, what the stories of panhandlers who make thousands are really all about. Having been forced to panhandle, he said that the chances that one can make enough for a meal to feed oneself a decent meal, let alone the payment for a Lexus, are tiny indeed.

Jeff and I were truly touched and if I could have afforded to purchase a copy of his book for everyone I know, I would have done it in a heartbeat. As it was, we purchased one copy for our church and I plan to stand up at next week's service and plug it shamelessly. As for the others of you, if you have not read this book, please, please, PLEASE do so. It is in no way a difficult read or a particularly painful one. His prose is easy to read and his story does less to embarrass or depress the reader but rather focuses on the good in people, on both sides of the homeless issue. His stories often made me smile and on a few times laugh right out loud. Since the publication of this book he has traveled to speak all over the world. He has been on CNN, FOX News, NPR, he has spoken in front of Microsoft Millionaires and is in the works to appear on Oprah in the future. He has also been working on several new books, one of which is a childrens book based on his dog, Willow, the Wonder Dog and the unconditional love of pets.

There, my commercial time is up.

Now onto the rest of our Sunday.

After spending almost 2 hours in the library while Jeff and I listened to Mr. LeMieux, the kids were ready for some park time.