Crane operator Shawn Beveridge didn’t think he’d be making a new friend that day at work. Until he saw a man watching him from outside a nursing home across the site from where he was.

The man in a wheelchair seemed to enjoy watching them work as he’d sit there all day.

“Since day 1 when I arrived on this job site I’ve noticed him sitting there every morning from 7am he takes lunch when we do and doesn’t leave until I shut the crane down and head out,” Shawn wrote on Facebook.

Shawn just thought, “he’s just a curious old man and wanting to enjoy his days outside vs being cooped up in his room.”

But as is with a lot of random moments, there was more to the man than meets the eye. Shawn’s curiosity won so he went to approach the man across the work site to introduce himself.

His name was Harold and he’d been living in the home for seven years. Their first conversation lasted for nearly three hours. That’s when Shawn learned that Harold was nearing the end of his life.

“His heart valves are clogged and some disease has been eating at him for years,” he wrote.

Harold was also a crane operator for over fifty years. No wonder he was enjoying the site.

“He said he enjoys seeing what he use to love to do for a living and never thought he’d ever be able to see or be around a crane again and let alone be so close to see one in action,” Shawn wrote.

Harold’s children, two daughters and a son, never once came by to visit him in the seven years he’s been staying there. So Shawn thought of making a deal with Harold.

He would swing by every day after his shift so Harold could criticize his work. The agreement was that Shawn would bring him black coffee and lunch twice a week from whichever cafe or restaurant Harold wanted.

“He didn’t skip a beat before ABSOLUTELY! came out of his mouth. I guess I’m writing this post because if I would have never walked over to him I would have never gotten to know him. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to make this man’s last days enjoyable. Filled with purpose and to be able to help him smile again,” Shawn wrote.

Shawn now had a reason to look forward to going to work. He made a new friend, and his daily visits to Harold always brightened his day.

“Always try to enlighten someone’s spirits. When God chooses to take this man home I’m happy knowing that I’ve been placed here at this location to make his days better. I’m happy with that,” he ended.

Shawn created a Facebook page where he posted updates about Harold.

Sadly, in Shawn’s latest post, Harold had already gone. He had multiple health issues and after contracting covid-19, Harold’s body just wasn’t able ti fight it all off.

Shawn went on to write,

“As I’m in the Crane, stairing up into the sky, I can’t help but get a tear in my eye. I’ve never really been able to wrap my head around why I took a 40hour a week job, 5-8’s …. 2 and half hours away from my house! No per diem, no lodging, Nothing! 100% of the time….I’ll decline those jobs. Except that ONE Time!! That one time an old man woke up, rolled out of bed, hopped in his wheelchair and beat all of us to work everyday. That one time every move I made in the crane was critiqued by an old man that use to be a crane operator himself. That one time an old man sat outside rain or shine, hot as hell or not and didn’t leave until the job was finished. That one time that old man…. Became my friend! I’m thankful for everything our friendship has taught me.”

He continued,

Life is hard as it is. Share a smile, strike up conversations, and be kind to one another. We never know what that random stranger is going through.

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Source: Positive Outlooks