The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Letter to the Editor,

It was Sept. 21, 2023 when the sign first appeared in the early morning fall colored light …”Love Life” many I’m sure drove by thinking … just another homeless person reaching out for a helping hand. But you’d be mistaken by such a thought.

I stopped (along with my wife Judy), as I was drawn to this articulate and kind hearted 70ish year old man with an odd looking shaded-sign on a backpack, that simply read in red lettering …“Love Life.”

As inquisitive as I was, I turned the car around got out and approached him. I didn’t feel sorry for him, but felt drawn to him by some unexplained feeling because of his effort inspiring message to me to Love Life as he has and as he would like others to do.

After giving him a small monetary donation, he explained his wonderful but tragic story to me. A son’s suicide, six years later the death of his daughter and nine trips across America on foot from Florida to Oregon, just to spread the simple message to Love Life, for we all never know what today nor tomorrow will bring to each and every one of us.

I implore all of you to research this small humble man Steve Fugate and purchase his book, which is titled “Love Life Walk.” In closing I would like to ask us all to reach out to loved ones and even those we don’t know and give a simple “Hello,” “How are you,” “How is your day going,” etc. For you never know what inspiring message you might learn or give to those who are hurting deep inside or those who just might have the story of a lifetime that will remind you to Love Life.

David McFadden,

Haxtun