This is Paul, he has been such an inspiration to me this summer.

The Umbrella in action.

Today was an amazing day for me at work. Jake and I finally got to work together for the first time in a month, and we KILLED IT! It was so great for us to have such an awesome day together. The pictures above are of a man named Paul. He is constantly roaming around Durango in his wheel chair. He has such a bright spirit. Whenever he comes into our store Jake and I make it a point to talk to him and really get to know him. He is sooo funny. We have really grown to love his visits, and thank goodness he frequently stops by. It isn't very easy to understand Paul, but after having a lot of conversations with him Jake and I have really learned to understand him. He is so smart, you can tell that his brain is one hundred percent there, he just doesn't have the motor skills or body to accompany his brilliant mind. Today he found out I was from Salt Lake and was quick to point out how the Jazz lost to the Bulls in the finals a few years back. He was rubbing it in my face about how good Michael Jordan is. It was fun to be able to joke with Paul about sports.

We had talked so long that it had begun to rain outside so Jake and I asked him what he does when he is rolling around town and it begins to rain. He joked that he finds anywhere and every where that he can drive into to stay dry until the storm stops. I told him that he needed an umbrella. The light bulb went on. He told me I needed to the back of the store and get a box so I did and he had me make him an umbrella. The pictures above are ones of the makeshift umbrella that I made him (just to his specifications). When I finished the cardboard part he was quick to tell me that he needed me to cut bags to drape down from the edges to keep him dry. He even made me tape the corners together so that the bags wouldn't flap funny in the wind. The whole time he was telling me how he is a "MacGyver" and that I needed to make it sturdy. I definitely feel like I failed. Customers were coming in and we definitely got some funny looks but it was so much fun to be able to build him something to keep him dry on a cold wet day like today.

It is so humbling to be able to watch Paul on a daily basis. I have learned so much from him. He is an incredible person and I will never forget the kindness and friendship that he has shown all of us.

This is a very long post (sorry) but today I also finally got my opportunity to pay it forward. Some bikers pulled up in front of our store and didn't have any money to pay for their parking meter. I had payed with cash for my coffee at the Bean earlier that day, which left me with filled with loose change. I hesitated for a second, then it hit me this is my change to pay it forward to some bikers who had shown me kindness earlier in July. I payed for their meter until 6 when the clock stops. They were so appreciative. They stopped in later to try and pay me back for the money I had put in my meter. I refused to take it, they tried so hard to get me to take it. I told them about how I lost my debit card while riding my bike to Purgatory (a local ski resort). I got to the gas station and realized it had fallen out somewhere along the way. I was in desperate need of food and water to make the 26 mile ride back to Durango. The first guy I asked (on a Harley) gave me 5$ which was just enough for water and some food. After telling my story, I explained how tonight was my chance to pay it forward to someone in need (just happened to be another Harley rider and his wife). They instantly took back the money and said that the next chance they had, they would pay it forward. WOW what a day, I can honestly say that it was one of the most humbling days I have ever had working, anywhere. Never pass up a chance to pay it forward, and enjoy the simple things in life.

Never Stop Breaking Down the Doors

- Kam