From today's Writer's Almanac
Small Kindnesses
by Danusha Laméris
Small Kindnesses
by Danusha Laméris
I've been thinking about the way, when you walk
down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs
to let you by. Or how strangers still say "bless you"
when someone sneezes, a leftover
from the Bubonic plague. "Don't die," we are saying.
And sometimes, when you spill lemons
from your grocery bag, someone else will help you
pick them up. Mostly, we don't want to harm each other.
We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot,
and to say thank you to the person handing it. To smile
at them and for them to smile back. For the waitress
to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,
and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass.
We have so little of each other, now. So far
from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, "Here,
have my seat," "Go ahead—you first," "I like your hat."
down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs
to let you by. Or how strangers still say "bless you"
when someone sneezes, a leftover
from the Bubonic plague. "Don't die," we are saying.
And sometimes, when you spill lemons
from your grocery bag, someone else will help you
pick them up. Mostly, we don't want to harm each other.
We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot,
and to say thank you to the person handing it. To smile
at them and for them to smile back. For the waitress
to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,
and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass.
We have so little of each other, now. So far
from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, "Here,
have my seat," "Go ahead—you first," "I like your hat."
It's a gift to be able to travel but it's a greater gift to come home. One of the benefits of travel is a renewed joy in my little daily routines and to be welcomed home by family and friends. My students at Noble Academy gave me a warm "welcome back." Yes, I recognize that part of their delight is my presence frees them from their class room for a a few moments. 😃
Before I entered the land of grief Joanne might have accompanied me on this trip, If she had not gone I would have had much to tell her. Because I could not tell her I tell you and that is important to me. Painful it is to have news to share and no one with whom to share it.
Road Scholar lived up to the accolades my many friends have given it. Were I to change one thing it would be this. If it offered a bit less programming I would have found it helpful. There was bit of free time offered but by the time it came I was too tired to take full advantage of it. The amount of programming overfilled my people bladder so, between that and fatigue, free time became time to rejuvenate alone. I would like to have done more solo exploration. If and when I take another such trip I'll likely just opt out of some the activity to meet this need.
With the signs of fall in the color of the leaves it struck a sadness in me. One more season that Joanne is not here to enjoy. It brought back the memory of the same feeling as spring came. It's been weeks since I visited her grave and that too makes me sad. It's time to sweep the grass away give it some care.
Takk for alt,
Al
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| Porto from the 17th floor dinning room of the hotel. |
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| 17th floor view of Porto. |
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