What does freedom mean to you?

While waiting for the bus in the rain/drizzle tonight, I met a young man, Cameron, who was in a wheel chair.  He rolled up and greeted me with a hearty, hello how are you?  and I replied I'm well and cold and how are you?  and we proceded to talk about the weather and personal temperature preferences.  He said he stays warmer because he doesn't have any legs to lose all his body heat for him.  We talked while waiting for the bus of this and that.  He's visiting a family member around here and thinks he might move here.  He thinks we have a great bus system; said it was really nice to be somewhere where it's pretty easy to get around without a car.  When the bus came he said, "cool it's one of those with the lift", but then the lift was broken and the bus driver apologized profusely and Cameron didn't bat an eye, he just said, "no problem" and hoisted himself onto the bus and dragged the chair up the stairs behind him. 

I don't know how Cameron lost his legs, but I do know that what he lacks in apendages he makes up for in charm, personality, optimism, friendliness.  I've been thinking about him ever since we parted ways.  He said he was talking with a bunch of folks earlier in the day who are riding their bikes all around Colorado in an event called "Ride the Rockies".  He thinks he'll join them next year. 

So how does this all relate to the question of freedom.  Cameron seems free to me.  Free from bitterness or self-pity.  He was just one of the most friendly people I've met in a long time.  He inspired me. 

He made me think of that quote, "I complained I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet."  He couldn't have been more than 25.  He has his whole life ahead of him.  I don't know what happened to his legs, but I can see he isn't feeling sorry for himself about it.  He's just living his life and spreading a little sunshine wherever he goes.  That's a kind of freedom.