Edgar… Old Age Isn’t for Sissies!

Yesterday, before making a quick stop at the Publix grocery store in downtown Fort Myers, I noticed an older gentleman sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by bags of groceries. I stopped and asked if he was all right. He shook his head and said he had been waiting more than two hours for a cab that never arrived. I told him I was an Uber driver and would be happy to take him home. He agreed right away, and I helped load his groceries and wheelchair as he carefully made his way into the front seat.

His name was Edgar, though growing up with seven sisters, his family knick named him Butch. The name Edgar is an old English Anglo-Saxon name that means “wealthy spear” or “prosperous warrior.” As I listened to his story, it became clear that the meaning of his name fit his life well. Edgar was 84 years old and had spent his life working hard, caring for others and standing strong through many challenges.

Edgar was born in Michigan and worked at a Kroger grocery store for many years. He started in the produce department and eventually became a manager. Later, in 1979, he and his wife moved to Southwest Florida, where he found steady work doing landscaping at a golf course. He enjoyed staying active and providing for his family, even as the years began to catch up with him.

Life became much harder when his wife grew ill with multiple sclerosis. For the last four years of her life, she was bedridden, and Edgar stayed by her side every day, caring for her with love and devotion until she passed away. Not long after, Hurricane Irma caused devastating damage to his mobile home, tearing off a brand-new roof and destroying nearly everything he owned. Still, Edgar pressed on, proving again that he was a warrior at heart.

One day after a rainstorm, Edgar was walking outside when he was struck by lightning. At first it did not seem serious, he thinks the lighting first hit a tree before striking the metal tip of his umbrella and bringing a bit of a shock to the top of his head. But the next morning he woke up with blurry vision. Over time, he completely lost sight in his right eye. As we talked, Edgar and I both agreed that old age isn’t for sissies. These words carried the weight of experience, not bitterness, but truth.

Recently, Edgar moved into a retirement community in downtown Fort Myers. The transition has not been easy, and he now struggles with mobility, but his spirit remains strong. He does not see himself as a sad person or a victim, and he still has joy in the Lord in his life! In many ways, Edgar truly lives up to his name—a prosperous warrior, not in wealth, but in perseverance, faith, and courage. It was an honor to get him home safely. Please join me in welcoming my new 84-year-old friend, Edgar, to the Ubernamez website.