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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The man who thinks I'm his daughter

I have three ringtones:  one for Handsome Hero, one for the man who thinks I'm his daughter, and one for everyone else.  Let me explain.

About a month ago, I had a voicemail from an elderly man who thought he had reached his daughter.  He was so pathetic and sad that I called him right back to let him know that he had the wrong number.  He sounded like he was going to cry.  He told me that he had been searching for his daughter and this number was his only link to her.  I had to tell him that I couldn't help, but that I have had this number for six years.

Well, he called a couple more times, and I told him that he had the wrong number, again, and he told me his story, again, and we commisserated, again, and he sounded pathetic, again, and I felt helpless, again.

My voicemail, for those who haven't called it, is of me singing an annoying song that I did SIX YEARS AGO when I first got the number.  I know I need to change it, but I forget that I have it until people call and sing back to me on my voicemail.  And they do it often.  At least one in five people sings her message to me.  I love that.

Wouldn't a wrong number be obvious with such a distinct voicemail?  I've now talked to this gentleman four or five times, and each time he tells me his story as if I haven't heard it before.  Handsome Hero finally told me to just not answer any more, because I wasn't helping the situation by doing so.  I changed the ringtone so that I wouldn't be frantically reaching for the phone only to have it be him.  The calls have increased to several a day, and the voicemails abound.  I'm becoming increasingly convinced this man has dementia of some sort.  He has made a connection between my phone number and his daughter for some reason and it seems unshakable.

I feel helpless.  I'm annoyed by all the calls and messages, but I would love to help this poor man. 

Thoughts?  Suggestions? 

3 comments:

  1. That is so sad! I will pray for him. What if once a day you answer and pray with him to find his daughter?

    Joan

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  2. i have never once thought about singing my message to you! lol. ((that's probably a GOOD thing for you. ;) ))
    i've been praying for this man. after watching my grandma go through dementia and be so convinced of what she was saying was true/current, i can't imagine the pain he's living. i'm praying his daughter is with him, he just forgets. *every day*mulitiple times a day*
    i'm sorry that he picked your number to remember, but i'm also glad. some other people could've really went off on him, and not care at all. ((even though you're annoyed, you're still "loving" on him.))
    i also love that he has his own ringtone. lol.

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  3. That is really sad. I agree with Joan, maybe not once a day, but every so often. Love you, friend!

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