Hearts are warmed by selfless act of kindness

A simple wave adds a touch of happiness to
everyone who passes by BY CHUCK TUCK | JOURNAL REPORTER Drive past Ashley Pointe on 20th Street NE anytime during the week and you’re likely to see Paul Burden sitting on his red scooter waving to everyone as they pass by.

Not only does Burden wave, helping passersby have a better day, but he has an infectious smile that warms the hearts of many people, young and old.

“The Federal Express lady came in the other day and said that he makes her day being out there waving,” DyAhna RiAll, Director of Ashley Pointe said.

The gift of giving goes both ways as people have treated Burden with respect and kindness.

“He has people drop him off drinks, and cupcakes, and two guys took him out to lunch one time and another person offered to take him out to breakfast,” RiAll commented. “They all wave at him as they go by, and several people have come in and said how delighted they are to see him out there and how he seems to be so happy,”

Burden said the two gentlemen who took him out to lunch took him for Thai food.

“They pulled up and said, ‘we’ve got to go get some tables for a guys wedding, do you want to go along with us and get some lunch?’ I said, sounds like a good deal to me, so I got in and went with them,” Burden said with that perfect smile of his.

He smiled again, saying he forgot to sign-out before leaving the grounds, and got in trouble for it, but the lunch was worth it.

Burden says he tries to get out and wave to people as much as he can in between breaks or whenever he can get away for a minute.

“Just whenever I have a break, it varies from – well, we have quite a

schedule going on in here,” Burden said of Ashley Pointe activities.
If you don’t see him in the morning or afternoon, you can be sure to see him in the early evenings.

“I usually go out in the evenings from 5 o’clock to 7 o’clock,” Burden said.

Burden served 40 years in the U.S. Air Force, 20 years of which as a recruiter.

He was stationed at Deer Lake near Spokane where he enjoyed fishing and a little bit of hunting.

Some of his best memories were flying to Hawaii to re-fuel planes.
Burden eventually moved to Apache Junction, Arizona before finding his way to Lake Stevens where he lives only nine miles from his daughter Lisa Mauvais.

Mauvais stopped by the day the interview took place to take her father out for lunch,” she said. “He is a wonderful father.”

Burden’s other daughter lives in Alaska where there is only 15 miles of roadway.

Mauvais said she is glad her father is able to make people smile.
“People are stopping to bring balloons and everything, and it tickles me pink,” Mauvais said.

“Most people wave at me and they give me a big smile, and I really like that,” Burden commented.

During his life of 75 years, Burden has enjoyed singing and has played one heck of a mean organ, but now days he simply enjoys putting a smile on many of the community’s faces by waving.

“I used to play the organ a lot, and I can’t play that anymore. I used to sing a lot and I have won a couple of singing contests, and I can’t do that anymore. So I just ride around on my cart and wave to people,” Burden said.

He wants nothing more than to put a warm spot in every person’s heart.

Burden certainly enjoys the company of people, and hopes that many of the passersby stop in sometime to visit and have a cup of coffee with him.

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