Something I Learned Along the Way

In 1977, I was working at a small cabinet and woodworking shop in Alhambra, California. I cannot for the life of me recall the name. I worked there for about 5 or 6 months.

I did not have any real experience but they hired me and my job was, for lack of a better word, to do what I was told to do, which was fine with me, I just wanted to work.

One of the jobs was to receive some rough cut pieces of wood and sand them on the sander. The man that did all the cutting and shaping would hand me the pieces for sanding and finishing.

He was probably in his mid thirties though I don’t really know his age. What I do know is that he was rude. He spoke to me in the most basic terms. “Take this”, “Do this”, “Right Now!” “Give me!”and on and on. He had a continual scowl on his face that just seemed to grate my nerve. Sometimes he would just hand me something, practically shoving it at me
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Over the course of a couple of months I was starting to build up some anger. One day I had had enough. When he shoved a piece of wood at me and walked away, I said “Hey! What the f... is your problem?" At this point I was willing to lose my job if I had to but I had had enough. He stood there looking at me.

He started to talk but I could see he was having difficulty getting his words out. He walked away but called at me with his fingers to follow him. I thought maybe we were going to fight, so I followed him. He sat on a bench and pointed with his chin for me to sit.

His eyes were watering as he began to speak. “I’m sorry!” he said. His words were slow and deliberate. “I’m told I have amnesia.” He stopped and I could see he was thinking about what he wanted to say. “I was in an accident, a car accident but I don’t remember.” They tell me that I had a wife and daughter that were killed in the accident but I can’t remember them! It was a long time ago. I had to learn to talk again. It has been hard.”

I was stunned. I was the one that was sorry. I apologized to him. I realized at that moment that it was not a scowl on his face, it was painful anguish. We became friends after that day. I learned that he was Native American, though I cannot remember the tribe. I believe his name was Richard but I’m not 100% certain. I do remember that he made every effort to be polite after that. His efforts touched me. The day I was let go, he took it hard. So did I. It was hard to say goodbye.

I never forgot him and I never forgot the lesson I learned!