Ryan Kost
Be Curious. Be Compassionate
Junk Doctor
Story 2: Life in Appalacha. Meet Lee. The self ascribed Junk Doctor. A congenial yes mam/sir kinda guy that carries a King James Bible with him wherever he goes. He proudly hails from Beckley, West Virginia. Now, he finds himself in Simpson, Pennsylvania working at Hoarder's Haven. A store that lives up to its name. The entire building is jammed with pretty much anything and everything, and there is just enough room to walk through the narrow paths. "I was a coal miner back home, but they were shutting down, and I wanted to get out. " He found his way to northeastern Pennsylvania where has been for 3 years. He still proudly dons his West Virginia hat and has an affinity towards sharpening knives and re-purposing what some might consider junk. "The more you buy the cheaper it is because I need to get rid of some of this shit." He's a charming and just a genuinely good human. When asked about Trump's election, he said, "He's a dumbass, but he's re-opened 11 coal mines back home." Lee and I couldn't be more different on many levels from our background to our political and religious beliefs. On paper, we wouldn't be seen in the same room, but you know what? I respect him. He is a wonderful human who might have different views but has integrity and values. The more we put ourselves out there and curiously peak our heads in places that might seem "different," the more we connect with each other. If you by chance find yourself in Simpson, Pennsylvania, stop by Hoarder's Haven and have a chat with Lee.
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