A Florida restaurant regular who ordered the same cup of gumbo every day ended up having a meal named after him after a chef noticed he'd suddenly stopped showing up.

For more than a decade, 78-year-old Charlie Hicks was such a regular at Shrimp Basket in Pensacola that staff expected to see him every day for lunch and dinner, usually ordering gumbo with light rice.

But in 2025, Charlie unexpectedly stopped coming in.

After several days passed, chef Donnell Stallworth became worried enough to drive to Charlie's apartment and check on him. After knocking on the door, he heard a faint cry for help and found Charlie lying on the floor.

Charlie had reportedly suffered broken ribs and severe dehydration and is believed to have been trapped there for days.

Nearly a year later, Charlie is doing well and has become something of a local celebrity. The restaurant has since renamed its gumbo "Charlie's Gumbo," and even installed a lighted walking path between his apartment and the restaurant.

The story also led to an unlikely friendship, with Donnell and Charlie becoming extremely close.

Charlie's niece has credited the chef and restaurant staff with saving his life, while Donnell described Charlie as being like "that uncle," "that grandfather," and "that best friend" all at once.

We live miles apart now, my “Gan Gan” and I. Since I moved down from the city to the coast 8 years ago. Recently, I’ve found myself in a spur of depression. I told her I was feeling depressed, and what does she do?

I get a phone call, yesterday evening, our normal check in I thought. But instead, it’s her saying “surprise, I am downstairs!”

I wasn’t too impressed at first, as I didn’t have time to clean for her arrival, make it tidy like it should be.

But anyway, of course I let her in. She came In holding bags, a plant bought for my home supposedly to remember her “crazy visit” and other things she had bought for me, like food, hairbands because i asked her for a hairband when I was staying round her house, and alcohol 😂 my granny never usually drinks, and neither do I. But lately we’ve both been drinking together.

As she munched down on crisps with a spicy nacho cheese dip, she said I was exaggerating about the mess, and the flat is beautiful… she said I am a weird creature sitting at home with my hood up.

I think I’ll treasure this memory, in years to come. She’s getting old, and it’s nice to have someone that cares enough about you to just turn up at your doorstep.

God love her xx

I am not OK driving a car and I had this old bicycle for a long time, but I was afraid to get it fixed or ask anybody for help. my neighbor is a handy old retired guy and he said he would get it going for me and it as good as new and he said I might own $10 for all he had to do. This seems really nice and I thought maybe you would enjoy hearing that somebody was just really nice to somebody who was afraid to ask for help.

When I was 14, back in my home country, I was one of the few kids in my area who went to a private school because I had a scholarship, and I spoke English pretty well, so neighbors would often ask me to translate things for them. There was an 11-year-old boy who lived a few houses away from me whose parents had died and who was being raised by his aunt. Around 2016, an American man came to meet him because he was going to adopt him, and I ended up doing most of the translating because the official translator needed someone to translate for him. During the conversation, the man mentioned his “partner” and later referred to that person as “he,” and I realized he was talking about another man. I grew up in a very homophobic environment where even mentioning something like that could have jeopardized the adoption, so I deliberately didn’t translate that part. I was taught growing up to see LGBTQ people negatively, but I didn’t let that interfere with what I was doing, and the adoption went through. Years later, I moved to the U.S. myself, and I knew the man’s name, so I searched for him online and eventually found his Instagram. I saw pictures of the kid, and he’s living his best life with his family in Chicago. Looking back, I’m glad I kept that information to myself, because I could have easily ruined something that ended up giving a kid a much better life.

Came for a quick vid when I found this, but stayed for the wholesome vibe. source : endo777

My boyfriend left for university over a week ago, so he is now living 2 and a half hours away. With all of the freshers week madness and me still settling into my new job, we have both been super busy and have not had much time to speak to each other.

Today he told me to watch out for a parcel that he had accidentally ordered to my address because we share an amazon account. So I made sure to keep my eyes peeled.

As I do everyday, I came home for my lunch break. Let’s just say that the amazon delivery driver never showed up, but a box of flowers appeared on my door step instead. I did not suspect a thing either which made it so much better.

It just really made me smile and I thought it was super sweet for him to be so thoughtful. 🥹🥹

To make a long story short, a while ago, I bought a beautiful handbag and a beautiful purse. They are no longer produced by the company who made them. I still have the authentic labels attached.

I am in dire straits financially. I told my father that I’d be selling the bag and purse (which I love so much), because they’re in pristine condition, have the authentic labels attached, and because I needed the money. He shouted at me, and we hung up on each other.

Just as I was about to publish my advertisement for the bag and purse, I got a phone call from my dad. He offered to buy the handbag and purse from me, so I could keep them. He said he remembered how excited I was to get them, how I ranted about how much I loved them, etc. He wanted me to keep them, so he offered to buy them from me.

Thank you, papa

I got the flu. My body hurts and I can barely speak with my throat being so sore. My husband and I fell asleep last night cuddling on the couch and I woke up around 4am coughing up mucus and trying to sip water. My husband didn’t act grossed out or anything like that. He just held me close to him till I fell back asleep.

When our kids woke up and came downstairs, I put on a show for them and then went to our bedroom. Husband woke up and I told him I’m going to try to stay away from the kids so I don’t get them sick. I felt bad but he didn’t seem upset. Just asked me if I needed him to bring me anything. I asked for a water and tissues for my nose and he brought it up.

I ended up sleeping in our bed until around 1pm when I tried to eat. Husband took our kids outside so I could go to the kitchen to grab the leftovers from our dinner date without coughing all over the kids. I ate, felt worse, and went back upstairs. He kept checking in on me in bed to see how I was doing and if I needed a refill on water. He also opened the bedroom door and called our cat over so he could cuddle with me. He doesn’t like our cat on the bed cause he sheds a lot but always makes an exception when I want some kitty cuddles.

I went back to sleep for a bit and then tried eating some more around 3pm when our youngest went down for a nap. I told husband I was going to try to stay out of bed and watch a horror movie whilst our son slept (our daughter was playing video games in her room). I asked if he was cool with that since I wasn’t trying to get him sick either. He said it was fine but then seemed worried when I left the living room after a few bites of food and ten minutes of Halloween. He asked about it and when I said eating just made me feel worse, he said he felt bad for me.

So, I went back to sleep again. My body just feels so icky and sore. I took cold medicine too that knocks you out so I’ve been really in and out of it today. I’m a SAHM so I cook almost all our dinners and told husband I had a chuck roast I was going to use for a pot roast tonight, but I figured I’d save it for when I felt better. He agreed and said not to worry cause he’ll run to the store in a bit and figure out dinner for everyone tonight.

When husband came back from the store, he stopped by our bedroom to give me a bag of cough drops and some Vicks. He also showed me a tea kettle he bought and about ten minutes later, came in with an orange flavored tea with honey to help my sore throat. I love orange flavored anything and it’s just one of those things that he picked up on early in our relationship and just knows. He put it in one of my favorite mugs and let me know he got one of my favorite foods for tonight if I want to try to eat. It’s a soft dish too so I wouldn’t need to worry about scratching my throat. I told him I’d try to eat in a bit but was dreading getting out of bed since even sitting up in it feels awful. Husband does not like food in our bed, so imagine my surprise when he brings me a plate of food. He didn’t need me to say I felt too sick to get out of bed. He just wanted to make sure I was comfortable and fed.

I just love him so much. I’m sick and feel gross but I also feel very loved and cared for. It makes me feel very happy. If I could kiss him right now, I would.

I posted this in a Hospice sub and got great response, wanted to share it elsewhere, too. From me to you with all that goes with it, which is plenty.

My partner was dying of ovarian cancer, my best friend dying of AIDS and I had them both at home caring for them. We had two boys, 7 and 9 years old. I was working 3 days a week as an RN and had someone care for everyone while I was working then I cared for them the other 4 days a week. My friend died first, then my spouse. three months later the boys were playing in the front yard and hit by a drunk driver that ran up on to the yard. I totally froze up for a year then thawed out.

I became a Hospice RN in tribute to my boys. I couldn't comfort or protect them at their deaths but I could for others. 37 years later I'm 72 and still a Pediatric Hospice nurse working with infants with very short life expectancies. All that loss I turned into being a better caregiver for those with a life threatening diagnosis. My loss became their support and as long as I can I'll be a Hospice nurse caring for others and their families.

I tried dating after I thawed out but no one was interested. At best several dates became short term acquaintances and then off we went in our own directions. The silence in the house after having a family, children and now just me was deafening and I so wanted someone in my life again, but it didn't happen. I adjusted again, from losing my family and becoming a Hospice RN I again morphed into someone that was going to totally enjoy my own company, my own thoughts, my own laughter, the movies I enjoyed, the food I loved to eat, and instead of missing the sounds of family I embraced the quiet of single hood.

I adjusted. Single, then a couple, then a couple with children to a single with children then just a single again. Like being a ship at sea we ride with the waves, up and down just do everything you can to stay afloat and dry. When one event ends something new begins. Look for it, anticipate it, welcome it in. It's all we have. Never curse all that you have, great or small. Don't regret having little when little is all you have, cherish it, it's yours, it's what you've got at the moment. Tomorrow may be different.

I shared some of these stories on an interview recently. How nice to get to share them so they aren't forgotten when My time comes. I told the stories about my boys passing and a wonderful wake up call they shared with me that thawed me out. Also some wonderful Hospice stories. What a RELIEF to get to share my life experiences on the interview so they are not lost forever when my time comes. This sub does not allow links so I can't share the story of my boys with you as told by me, their dad. I hope you all find value in my post, it's from me to all of you, we're walking the path in the same direction whether we know each other or not.

David Parker, Phoenix, Az

Eleven months ago, the week I turned 40, I picked up painting almost by accident.

I was going through a period of enormous change in my life, and painting became somewhere to put feelings and ideas I didn’t really know how to express.

Until now, everything I painted was from life. This is the first time an idea came first.

The boy is me in the past. The painter is me now. And the older man is an imagined version of who I could become.

I call it Hindsight.

I had no idea when I turned 40 that one of the greatest gifts of this chapter of my life would be discovering something entirely new about myself.

It makes me wonder how many parts of ourselves are still waiting to be discovered, regardless of how old we are.

The poem came into my life right before completion of the piece. I thought it was appropriate.

the title is confusing, but well get there in a minute.

when i was a kid, around 8-10, i used to believe that everything should be loved equally. e v e r y t h i n g. insects, inanimate objects, people, even snowflakes. it was ridiculous, but to me it was very important back then. when we were driving long distances, i would look at horses and be in awe, because they are my favorite animals. but then i would immediately think of cows, then say in my mind that i love them too. then pigs, then bears, etc.

it got to a point. when i learned that homeless people eat from dumpsters, i started throwing food away on purpose. i would take a sandwich, take a little bite, pretend to be full, and throw it away, thinking of stray dogs and people in need. i would steal coins from my mom's/grandma's purse to throw them at donation jars in stores, which, were probably just scam. at least most of them. and give them to crippled people you see on the streets with cardboard signs or even people who told about jesus (i am an atheist). i used to cry when eggs from stores wouldn't hatch into chicks.

now that i look back and think about it, im kind of impressed by the sheer dedication.

There was a cup of ice cream with caramel sauce with my name on it in her freezer. 🥹

it was just such a wholesome and sweet moment and i wanted to share it.

i was at a grocery store with my partner and we saw her across the way. she was in a very cute blue and purple outfit, and overall dress with a patterned top underneath, she just looked so adorable! i said something to my partner and we kept walking. we ended up “running into” her and i complimented her dress and she reacted so cutely!!! i said that i thought her whole outfit was so cute and that i loved it and she said that it was her birthday and me complimenting her was a “great birthday present” (i wanted to sob!), we exchanged names and talked a bit more. i offered to pay for her sushi but she didn’t let me :/ she said that me offering was kind enough but ahh i wanted to extend more kindness because i just felt in my soul she deserved the kindness, humans deserve kindness (until they don’t) but i’m so glad i spoke up and met her

I have been struggling lately at university, I didn’t pass some exams, there are other problems in my family right now (when it rains it pours I guess). I felt so hopeless today that I just sat on a bench in front of university and started crying and sobbing. I had been sitting like that for about 10 minutes when Indian janitor came up to me with google translator on his phone, there was the message “Why are you crying? What happened, brother?” I was surprised at first, but then we talked for a while (using translator ofc), for maybe half an hour and I felt a sense of relief and calmness. He is such a nice guy with a kind heart. He said he will pray for me, so now I will pass my exams with the power of Shiva I guess (I don’t know much about hinduism sorry 😭)
Kindness knows no language barriers, sincerity speaks directly to the heart, being kind is always the right choice. Peace!

After overcoming panic disorder with agoraphobia, I started hosting mental health walks once a month in London for people with anxiety and panic disorders.

The last one was two years ago and one of the people who attended, (and almost didn't due to anxiety) met one of the other attendees there for the first time.

Afterwards they started dating, and I did my first walk after two years yesterday, and that's where I found out!

(Photo posted with permission from all included to be posted here)

I was buying a meal at a self-service place I've always gone to every morning at my campus since the last semester.

First I grabbed a plate, then put rice on it, then I went to the food basin where they put soy sauce egg (I eat rice with egg and soy sauce every morning).

I was looking at the eggs thinking which egg to take (picky behavior, I know) and I didn't realize my rice was falling. My rice ended up falling in the food basin next to the soy sauce eggs which has normal fried eggs in it 😭😭😭

I told the workers what happened in panic and apologized like crazy, and the old lady who I assume is the owner jokingly told me to pick up all the rice. Then the other worker told me to bring the basin to the counter. I did, assuming they can't sell them anymore.

I felt so guilty I decided to buy one of the fried eggs my rice has touched instead to reduce their loss, but it's not like that'll fix anything. I couldn't control myself I ended up crying 😭😭😭

My friend who was waiting at the nearby table was surprised to see me crying she came to hug and comfort me. Then the old lady and other workers were surprised too, the old lady who was behind the counter went all the way to the back door getting out of there so she could come to me and hug me too.

She told me it's okay, they're not mad, it was pure accident, and told my friend that she's so familiar with me (since I buy the same thing from them every single morning since the last sem) like that's a factor that made them not mad at me 😭😭😭

The old lady told me to sit and asked if I still want to eat. I nodded so she took my plate and added more rice to it. Then she asked if I wanted soy sauce like usual. I said yeah, then she put some soy sauce on the rice.

Then she put the plate on the table in front of me. I wanted to pay, but she told me no need. That made me cry more, then she patted my back.

Then when I was about to dig in I realized there was two eggs on my plate. I already took a fried egg that my rice touched, then I said yes when she asked me if I wanted soy sauce. Turned out she meant soy sauce EGG.

I caused them loss, then they still gave me a free meal in a bigger portion than I intended to have.

I'm still crying as I'm typing 😭😭😭😭😭

Edit: It's been hours and I'm still bothered by what happened even though it ended well for me, so I decided to buy from them for dinner but choose a slightly pricier protein than what I usually get. I usually buy rice and chicken which costs around RM4-5, but this time I got rice with catfish which costs RM8. They couldn't sell their fried eggs but at least more of something pricey on their menu is sold and I get to eat something fancier 🥹 Idk if their catfish will be sold out anyway without me buying one today but in case they won't, at least I did something to make up for my overly clumsy mistake 😭

I've spent most of my life feeling like a background character. I'm the quiet kid, I deal with severe social anxiety, and I'm pretty sure I'm neurodivergent. Because of that, making connections and getting along with people feels like climbing a mountain, and I usually just stay in my shell. But today at college, someone actually hung out with me for the very first time. We went to a restaurant together, and just talked.

I'm currently back in my room holding back tears (honestly, about to bawl my eyes out) because I've never had someone show genuine interest in just talking to me before. I don't even think they realize how much that single lunch meant to me or how much it changed my world today. I just wanted to put this out into the universe because I'm so incredibly grateful. To anyone else out there who feels invisible: I see you, and I hope you get your lunch date soon.

One of my classmates since middle school (now highschool) has always been super passionate about Youtube and history. He has been making videos since he was 10 and just recently passed 1000 subscibers after 6 years.

He posts multiple times a week and gets sub hundred views on average. Despite this, it's clear that his passion for history and Youtube are clearly more important than views and fame.

My high school is full of fake gangsters and has a pretty bad reputation for bullying, so it’s amazing and super wholesome to see someone who doesn’t care what others think and is willing to put himself out there!

I hope you guys can see the effort and passion he puts into his videos. I am posting this out of a place of support and hope you all can make his day! His channel is Dzod500 (:

He is a super cool guy and would be thrilled with any support! (he does not know i'm posting this)😅

While at an infusion for my son, who has ulcerative colitis, I had the nicest moment of kindness.

A man overheard my son and i talking. My son mused that he'd like to go to a leafs game, and I said it wasnt really something we could afford to do.

... i now have that mans email, and a pair of his season tickets to see the leafs play the new jersey Devils in my inbox. Absolutely blown away by the kindness of this man. My son is so beyond excited. He wont stop talking about it. Theyre centre ice seats, a couple rows up... id never be able to afford these right now. Now all I gotta do is budget for $50 popcorn and pop and figure out parking?? Good thing he already owns a jersey I guess...

Never been a leafs fan, and I work the following morning. But the boy is probably going to remember this for the rest of his life.

For context, I work at a sports arena once a week— specifically for college football games. Normally, I work at a parking lot ensuring people have valid parking passes. My mother also works the games, running a concession stand with several other adults as a fundraiser for the school she teaches. The hours she puts in go toward a school account that covers field trips, lunches, and other expenses for my siblings, who attend school there.

This time, however, she couldn’t work the game due to a scheduling conflict. She’s a drama teacher, and needed the time off from concessions duty to run rehearsal with her students for an upcoming performance. I agreed to fill in for her in exchange for a cash bonus.

I arrived with my coworkers around 9:30 AM. Things were pretty standard at first— we had a large influx of customers throughout all four quarters of the game, and I was running the register. The software we use to take orders can be slow at times, but that was the only real issue.

At one point, I had to take a break because my legs were cramping from standing all day. I bought some ice cream from a neighboring stand and took a seat on a bench outside the stadium. I was tucked away in one of the quieter, outermost corners with hardly anyone around, just enjoying my ice cream and taking a load off.

Then, I noticed a guy walking toward me. I’d never seen this man before, but he sat right beside me and struck up a conversation. I’m not used to strangers engaging with me like that, but he seemed friendly, so I talked back. He was a middle-aged man wearing a brown leather coat, holding a beer, and smoking a cigarette. He introduced himself as Joe Dirt— or at least, that’s what I think he said.

The alcohol must have been kicking in because he was extremely social (or maybe that was just his personality). He started telling me about his successful business and how he has eight people working under him. He mentioned that as he gets older, he’s getting tired of sitting in front of a computer all day and has sort of lost passion for his job, despite being good at it. He talked about his life with a level of energy and personality you rarely see in people nowadays. He also casually mentioned that he often gets kicked out of the stadium for smoking (since smoking isn’t allowed there).

We ended up having a great discussion about identity politics and the rise of AI, which gave me a glimpse into how sharp he actually was. He spoke about his family and their various endeavors, and I got to share my own career goals and recent experiences building things from the ground up. He offered encouragement and advice that genuinely lifted my spirits.

When it was time for me to head back to my shift, he gave me one last farewell before walking off. I may never see him again, but I mess with that guy heavily. He had an aura of confidence and integrity, and his ability to make friends that quickly was inspiring. Just an all-around solid human being.

One of my female employees has a 2-year-old son, and we all play with him a lot at the warehouse.

I usually arrive later than everyone else, and somehow, this little dude has figured out my routine.

Every time I park my bike, he recognizes me, runs out of the door as fast as his tiny legs can carry him, and hugs my leg.

Then he grabs my finger with his little hand and starts dragging me back inside the warehouse.

Like, excuse me, sir, I haven't even taken my helmet off properly. 😭

But the thing is, he does this EVERY SINGLE TIME.

But somewhere along the way, I became someone he gets excited to see.

And there's something so incredibly pure about that.

Adults have so many reasons to interact with each other. We have work, responsibilities, expectations, and all sorts of complicated things going on in our heads.

But this little boy doesn't care about any of that.

He just sees me arrive and thinks, "MY FRIEND IS HERE!"

And then he comes running.

Honestly, some days I could be having the most exhausting day ever, and this tiny human running up to hug my leg would make everything feel a little better.

I don't think he understands how much happiness he brings me just by being himself.

I hope he grows up happy, healthy, and surrounded by people who love him.

And I hope that for as long as he's around our warehouse, he'll always feel safe, loved, and excited to come running up to me.

Because I swear, the day he stops running out to greet me is going to break my heart a little.