To the Editor,

July 16th 2009

My name is Brandon Walker and I thought I would send a quick note over to the Daily Light about something that has really opened my eyes. I started a small roofing company and I have to say I’ve been blessed. At times I know I take things for granted. Am I out hitting the streets every time a huge hail storm comes through? The answer is no. First off, I’m not big enough to handle too many jobs at once and secondly I’ve kind of just fell into a nice little slump. By slump I’m referring to as long as I get a set amount of jobs to build a month I live a very comfortable life. Which is very contrary to the previous three years that were almost unbearable.

I was laid off from a great sales manager position with Owens Corning in 2005 and what followed was a declining job market and layoff after layoff with different companies trying to stay afloat. I pretty much lost everything and a large piece of me. I promised myself I would do things differently if I ever got the chance and in 2008 I started my roofing company. The money was finally coming in again, but after getting a routine I started being a little wasteful again. You know spending money on things I didn’t need. Eating out a bit much, going out a little too often. Don’t get me wrong. It felt good to be able to just get up and do whatever I wanted, but with that came a certain amount of guilt.

Before I started the roofing company my only wish was, I wanted to be able to stock my cabinets with food and be able to cook and eat whatever I wanted when I wanted. To some that probably sounds a bit odd but until you are faced with hunger or the feeling of rock bottom you may not understand. I was there and that was my only wish. Not to have a bunch of money or nice things but a house again and plenty of food. I remember crying after grocery shopping one day because I felt like I finally got my wish. In this day and age I think a lot of people are feeling it now.

The reality is there are many people out there that have had or are having a harder time than I did. I don’t want to sit back and just coast. I don’t want to fall into a routine because I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. Every morning I go down to Oma’s for breakfast. I like to have a seat and chat with Roxy, Scott and Jimmy. Every day I see the same man ride up on a bicycle and come in and do small odd and end jobs. I’m usually there at 7 when they open. He is usually outside around 6:30 ready to see if they have anything for him to do.

At first I didn’t really pay any attention. One day I asked Roxy about him and another man said, “Yep, I see him riding into town every morning I don’t know how he does it.” I said what do you mean. He said the man rides 10-15 miles into town one way. Immediately I started thinking about how many people I knew that would ride 15 miles into town one way to do odds and ends not to mention show up on time. I couldn’t think of one. Pretty much everyone I know would be too embarrassed to be seen on a bike, if they couldn’t hitch a ride I think they would pretty much just stay inside and do nothing.

It’s raining today. I’ve been up since about 3 a.m. and as the clock got closer to 6, I started getting ready to go to Oma’s. I walked in, talked with Roxy and Scott and like clockwork I look out the window and see a man in a rain coat on a bike riding up. He takes off his coat, comes in and asks what can he do for them this morning. I don’t know if all customers notice him or not but I would like to think that the ones that do take notice, are inspired when they see him.

I don’t think this man has any idea that he inspires people but I’m sure he does. It’s funny how we go through life not fully knowing how our actions affect others whether we are just listening in on a conversation or just watching someone from a distance. Most of the time I’m sure we are so self-consumed we don’t pay attention but for some we have the ahh-ha moments where we are blown away by someone or something that can change us for the better no matter how big or how small.

This man, his simple bike and humble disposition have made me a better person. He has brought me back to reality.

Do I feel sorry for this man, UMMMMM, I don’t think so. My feeling is this. I see how I’ve been wasteful and I’ve complained about small things that in the grand scheme of things are petty and here is a man that obviously gets up very early in the morning to ride his bike all the way into town for odd and end jobs and has a smile on his face and just seems happy.

No, I don’t feel sorry for him, I envy him, I respect him. I know if others knew him they would also. I think I’ve been able to get my point across. I think he is a inspiration. I had a little truck I sold about four months ago, had I known his story sooner I would have given it to him. So many people want so much without first earning it. I could honestly say from seeing this man every morning for so long in 100 degree heat or showering rain his dedication and work ethic are something to be admired.

When I first got into Roofing I didn't even have a ladder.  One year my sister and brother in law got me a ladder for Christmas, and now I have a roofing business.  The man I speak about in my letter would ride his bike, knock on doors and ask (would you like your yard mowed?) and when the prospective customer would say yes, he would ask if he could use their mower.  I took this man to tractor supply and told him to pick out any mower he wanted.  With a big smile on his humble face he pointed to one and we rang it up.  Like me he came from a humble beginning and now is very busy with his lawn business.  I hope this man's story inspires people, I hope our story gives hope to anyone with a dream and I hope those who reached their dreams HELP others in doing so.

Brandon Walker, owner

Ark Roofing