What is today?
Well, it’s the second day of Rosh Hashanah for one. And for Muslims, the second day of Ramadan. But it’s also the fourth day of Hello From My Heart week.
You may remember “Hello From My Heart†from an Urban Explorer column I wrote last year. I heard about this rotund man, Gary Schineller, who liked saying “hello from my heart†to random strangers. He swore up and down that the simple act of a meaningful “hello†could prevent crime and create community.
So, to test that theory, I brought him to one of Tampa’s roughest neighborhoods to see if he could spread some happiness there. I’ve always treasured the look on his face when we first arrived on that street full of broken bottles, barking pit bulls and sneering hoodlums.
But it seems Schineller one-upped me this year: He got the chance to spread his message in jail! Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t of his own volition.
As the Tampa Tribune reports, Schineller spent Sunday night in Land O’ Lakes’ jail after he was arrested on charges of drunk driving, DUI property damage and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. A state trooper arrested our friendly source after he allegedly hit a car on his way home and didn’t stop. The driver of the damaged vehicle followed Schineller to his New Port Richey home and called the cops.
(I wonder if Schineller actually greeted this man with a enthusiastic, and slurred, “Hello, from my heart! And I’m really sorry about slamming into your car. Really, from my heart.â€)
The trooper reported Schineller’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. No word from Schineller on where he was coming from or if Hello, etc. Week festivities will go on. But there was an event planned this Friday and Saturday where Carol Mitchell is slated to sing the Hello From My Heart anthem.
It is being held at The Cabana in Clearwater, a bar and grill.
