This is the kind of karma I'd like to die owning.

June 14, 2010 9:21 AM

Australian angel at The Gap. (no, not *that* Gap)

Aussie MeFites may already know him well, but I thought the rest of us might like to meet Don Ritchie.

posted by allkindsoftime (19 comments total)

Wow. What an amazing man, what an amazing life. I think the weight of those he couldn't save would be unbearable.
posted by cjorgensen at 9:29 AM on June 14, 2010

I look over at a co-worker, while reading this article (sue me, it's lunchtime):

"I wish the world was full of people like this," says I.

"That would be boring, wouldn't it?" my coworker replies, looking over sports scores.

I frown. "No, no it wouldn't."

Article still made my day. Thanks for posting it.
posted by Mooski at 9:46 AM on June 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

What a beautiful person.
posted by spec80 at 9:51 AM on June 14, 2010

Lovely, splendid, thank you.

For more little moments of happiness, here's Gives Me Hope.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:17 AM on June 14, 2010

In America, they just taze 'em.
posted by Tacodog at 10:30 AM on June 14, 2010

Too snarky. I know. I wish there were more people like him in the world. I have a few relatives who could've used his charm and kindness.
posted by Tacodog at 10:43 AM on June 14, 2010

"And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."

posted by stbalbach at 10:43 AM on June 14, 2010 [4 favorites]

Could have sworn this was a double. Weird.

Awesome guy, nevertheless.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:51 AM on June 14, 2010

Could have sworn this was a double. Weird.

Not a double. But I posted a link to the story in your Golden Rule thread earlier, so it may be showing up in your recent activity.
posted by zarq at 10:56 AM on June 14, 2010

This is really touching.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 11:04 AM on June 14, 2010

Ah, that would be it.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:06 AM on June 14, 2010

I believe strongly in the redempetive potential of a good cup of tea.
posted by PinkMoose at 11:21 AM on June 14, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm glad he and his wife are being recognized as Citizens of the Year, but he's being doing this for decades, what took them so long?
posted by tommasz at 11:28 AM on June 14, 2010

PinkMoose: you may enjoy this
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:49 AM on June 14, 2010

In America, they just taze 'em.

Beat pushing.

NPR had a story a while back about some guy in Japan (I think) that was tasked with suicide prevention. The part I remember best is that he'd take lunches with grain alsohol and the reporter couldn't keep up with his drinking.

I was trying to find the story, but failed.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:54 AM on June 14, 2010

NPR had a story a while back about some guy in Japan (I think) that was tasked with suicide prevention. The part I remember best is that he'd take lunches with grain alsohol and the reporter couldn't keep up with his drinking.

I was trying to find the story, but failed.

His name is Chen Sah, the bridge is in Naan-jing, China and it was on This American Life recently.
posted by Happy Dave at 12:33 PM on June 14, 2010

Could have sworn this was a double. Weird.

I had the same feeling, and searched forEVER before finally posting, fwiw.
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:06 PM on June 14, 2010

this story has been bugging me all day. specifically, the part about the golden gate bridge jumper, kevin hines, who For 40 agonizing minutes, the then-19-year-old paced the bridge, weeping, and hoping someone would ask him what was wrong. ... Today he says if one person had shown they were not blind to his pain, he probably would never have jumped.

i've probably known a kevin hines or two in the making. people who are sad, depressed, frightened ... hopeless. maybe they see that in me, or maybe they see the 'weird kid.' i don't know, but for a while, at least, they sought me out. and for a while, i thought it was my job to make them happy, self-confident, hopeful.

that can be a terribly draining experience, one that i'm not the least bit qualified to handle. i thought it was my duty, though. it took me a long time to realize that i can't save anyone but myself.

when i read that, though, it makes me wonder how i can not be blind to someone's pain without somehow becoming that person's 'savior.' and it makes me wonder if i've smiled at enough people lately.
posted by msconduct at 4:35 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fucking legend.
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:01 PM on June 14, 2010