here's to christmas and new year,
to half-days and holidays that i get to enjoy,
to strong friendships and fleeting acquaintances – both of which have made my day,
to miracles, big and small, that have shown me a new way of looking at life,
to having lived the single life (i mean, with my own apartment and all) for about 11 months so far,
to another alcohol-less new year welcome,
to another year, with all its joys.
cheers!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
all it takes - a story
there was still some 15 minutes before His lunch hour ended. He decided to take a walk, away from the noisy food-court. there was a time when a walk after lunch was a luxury. with advancing age, it becomes mandatory.
He passed by a 7-11 and on second thoughts, stepped in and made his way through the aisles. His throat was beginning to hurt. but rather than go to a doctor and pile up on antibiotics, He preferred to buy some 'fisherman's friend' lozenges. changing times were evident even here – the strong lozenges that was once packed in stiff paper bags was now in a resealable plastic pouch.
picking up His preferred flavour, He made his way to the checkout counter. as He fumbled with His wallet, looking for change, the door opened and a young boy walked in with an ice cream cone. the boy was clearly a construction worker, probably working on one of the many sites that dotted the area. his face was tanned and sweaty from the sun, and his boots caked with mud. the boy had clearly been wanting to eat an ice cream for a long time. the desire was writ large on his face, and in the gentle way in which he held the cone.
the boy asked the cashier for the price. upon being told that it was $1, his face fell. yet, he took out some coins from his pocket and counted them, probably hoping there would be enough. upon realizing that he had only 70 cents, the boy mumbled that he was short, passed the ice cream to the cashier and started to walk back.
watching all of this, He could not keep quiet. He could not bear to see the disappointment in the boy's eyes.
"boy, come back. here, take the ice cream. i will pay for it." He called out. the boy hesitated. He turned to the cashier and told her that He would pay for the ice cream cone. taking the cone back from the cashier, He passed it to the boy.
"here you go. enjoy it." He said with a smile. in return, the boy gave him the happiest smile He had seen in a long time on anyone's face. He watched as the boy carefully unwrapped the cone and licked up the cream stuck to the paper.
as He walked back to his office, He recollected the incident – the boy's smile; the happiness derived from making someone happy; the shared empathy of just how hard it is for some people to afford even the smallest things in life – He had just been witness to all of those priceless emotions.
and all it took was a dollar.
He passed by a 7-11 and on second thoughts, stepped in and made his way through the aisles. His throat was beginning to hurt. but rather than go to a doctor and pile up on antibiotics, He preferred to buy some 'fisherman's friend' lozenges. changing times were evident even here – the strong lozenges that was once packed in stiff paper bags was now in a resealable plastic pouch.
picking up His preferred flavour, He made his way to the checkout counter. as He fumbled with His wallet, looking for change, the door opened and a young boy walked in with an ice cream cone. the boy was clearly a construction worker, probably working on one of the many sites that dotted the area. his face was tanned and sweaty from the sun, and his boots caked with mud. the boy had clearly been wanting to eat an ice cream for a long time. the desire was writ large on his face, and in the gentle way in which he held the cone.
the boy asked the cashier for the price. upon being told that it was $1, his face fell. yet, he took out some coins from his pocket and counted them, probably hoping there would be enough. upon realizing that he had only 70 cents, the boy mumbled that he was short, passed the ice cream to the cashier and started to walk back.
watching all of this, He could not keep quiet. He could not bear to see the disappointment in the boy's eyes.
"boy, come back. here, take the ice cream. i will pay for it." He called out. the boy hesitated. He turned to the cashier and told her that He would pay for the ice cream cone. taking the cone back from the cashier, He passed it to the boy.
"here you go. enjoy it." He said with a smile. in return, the boy gave him the happiest smile He had seen in a long time on anyone's face. He watched as the boy carefully unwrapped the cone and licked up the cream stuck to the paper.
as He walked back to his office, He recollected the incident – the boy's smile; the happiness derived from making someone happy; the shared empathy of just how hard it is for some people to afford even the smallest things in life – He had just been witness to all of those priceless emotions.
and all it took was a dollar.
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