This is part one of a two-part series. The second story, with more on Reggie's new life and how far he has come, airs Friday on 69 News at 5:00.
Little things can make a big difference. A one-time homeless man who's now the co-author of a children's book is proof of that, and a friendship is what made all the difference.
A simple hello can change the trajectory of a person's life.
Reggie and Molly met when they both needed it most.
"Like wow, is this real? I still don't think it's real," said Reggie Grisby.
His life took a turn from being a man without a home to becoming the co-author of a children's book. Now Reggie thanks the woman who changed his life.
"She didn't see no color, no money line, rich or poor, she didn't see none of that, she saw a human being," Grisby said.
"I walked the greenway every morning here in South Bethlehem," said Molly Pacheco, coauthor. "I met a man named Reggie and we would say 'good morning' to each other everyday and exchange a few pleasantries, a smile."
And one day he came up to her and said --
"'Hey, I just wanna really thank you for taking the time to stop, say good morning and for your smile because your smile fills me up with joy and happiness,'" Pacheco describes.
And that simple interaction bloomed into a beautiful friendship.
"Then we started talking and at that time I was in a very, very dark place in my life, so dark that I was ready to throw in the towel," Grisby said. "But then this beautiful sunshine of day, of light, came out of all the darkness and that's how it began."
For Pacheco, meeting Grisby also gave her purpose.
"I very quickly learned that Reggie had a lot to say and I wanted to help him find a way to really express that," Pacheco said.
And they created a book together.
"He agreed to come together with me to create "Reggie, Protector of the Universe" which is a children's book which is about finding the beautiful small things in life that make you smile and how that has an affect not only in your internal peace and happiness, but amplifies towards your community as well," Pacheco said.
And Grisby says the book has made him feel like he can now help others.
"I feel great. I feel like I can be of use to someone else. Even though I'm down I can help lift someone else up," he says.
