Stranger #9

Ken Orth

I met Ken while on a skiing trip in Angle Fire New Mexico. We had been skiing and stopped for some Hot Chocolate at the top of the slope. All of the tables were filled when Ken and his son came in. He asked if he could join us since we had two extra chairs. He was very easy to get to know and when I asked him to be stranger #9, he quickly said yes.

Ken lives in Albuquerque and came up here to spend the day with his youngest son, Quinn.. “I have another son but he had a hockey game today so his mom is with him.”

Ken is the “ editor, publisher, writer and photographer” for a paper in Albuquerque called Duke City Fit, highlighting all the sports activities in the area.

“It’s printed on recycled paper using soy based ink” he states with a huge smile on his face. “You can eat it.  No really, you can eat it.”

“I hope to get people off the couch and into exercising.  I write about everything from Yoga to mountain biking, kayaking to weight lifting. I try my best to cover any and all the activities in and around the area in hopes that something will spark an interest in someone. There is such a variety of things to do here that surely one of these activities will inspire you to get out and try one. Enjoyment is the key to getting and staying fit.”

“What I basically do is go out and try different things and write about my experience and hopefully show that if I can do it you can do it.”

"There are really a lot of different activities around Albuquerque. It has become a Mecca of sorts for people who are training because of the altitude and the good weather.  Last weekend I was up on the top of the crest for the ninth annual Great Snow Shoe Race.  It’s a three and half mile race, with about 150 participants ranging in age from 10 to 84. The guy that won it did it in like 28 minutes, which in snow shoes and snow is simply outrageous, OUTRAGEOUS!”

You can tell Ken really enjoys life. “What good is health if you’re not enjoying life?”

Thank God for people like Ken who inspire us to try different things and remind us that life can be fun and exciting. To stop watching others live their lives on the television set and get out there and put some life in our lives.

 So what excites you? What will make you say “THAT WAS FANTASTIC!”  If you don’t yet know what that might be maybe you should check out Duke City Fit, even if you don’t live in Albuquerque. I’m sure Ken will show you something that will excite you. There is a archive of past stories on his web site.

Stranger #8

Stranger #8

Hector Cruz

I met Hector while selecting my lunch at Treeberds in downtown Houston Texas.. You can't miss him with his crooked hat and huge smile. I did not know his name he just impressed me that he was so happy and joyful. I found myself returning often not only because they have great food but also because of Hector and his attitude. He quickly knew what I liked and sometimes have it ready for me before I even got to his station.  You can tell he loves serving people. So I made a point to meet him.

I interviewed Hector after he got off work at Treebeards. He told me he has worked here since 2004 and he loves it. “The management here is great and we have a good time joking with each other. It’s a great place to work.”

“I love making people smile. Just to day I had a man that comes here often that never smiles and when I saw him today, I said to myself I’m going to make that man smile today. So I tried talking to him about the holiday season while I was fixing his Jambalaya and rice but I noticed he was not smiling.  So I asked how can  I make you happy today. He said “don’t put too much rice in my Jambalaya.” So how much do you want? And when we finished fixing his plate he was smiling. I told him that I will remember about the rice next time and if I ever put too much rice in, you just tell me I wanta always make it just as you like it. After he left I thought to myself, I think I just made a new friend and that’s kinda cool.”

He told me he talks to people about sports, weather, anything to break the ice and start the conversation. “They are only in my line for a few minutes so it has to be short and quick but hopefully I have helped them,.. you know,.. like, have a have a little bit better day.

The manager Matt Rowden stated that Hector has “quite a following.” ” I know there are people who come here just because of Hector.”

I know that has to be true because it is true for me. You know, when you break off from work and go someplace for lunch, Isn’t it fantastic to have someone who will make you smile and make you feel welcome. Hector always makes me feel like he has been waiting for me to come in and enjoy his Red Beans and Rice. He gives me a nice break from the stresses of the work day and a great start to enjoying my meal.