In 12 days I will sojourn to Venice, Italy and begin a journey of finding myself. It seems ironic that I have to go to a floating city that is constructed of canal mazes and over 100 bridges to find myself. However, similar to Venice, I am a complex person to navigate. Oddly enough though, similar to Venice, no matter how much you try to unravel me, you come back to the core of my being--a genuine, caring heart.
Being a nice person has been my downfall. I have noticed that people often become very skeptical of nice people. People think that I am only being nice because I want something. Why can't people just accept the fact that I am being nice for genuine reasons? I love people, especially kids and it makes me happy to see others happy.
So, when I am in Venice and I am trying to navigate across bridges and along the canals, I will be looking for life's metaphors. My friends and coworkers tell me that no one gets lost in Venice. I am told that no matter what route you take, you always seem to find your way back to the campo (the heart of the community). Likewise, no matter what you think of me, it always comes down to the fact that I have a genuine, caring heart.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Don't Leave Home Without It??
Today I went to my favorite Greek restuarant on my way home from the office. The place is so familiar with me that when I walk in they allow me to seat myself at MY table. When the waitress goes to the kitchen and yells, "Greek coffee, no sugar" the cook knows exactly who is here. Afterall, no American in her right mind orders a Greek coffee without sugar...except me. Usually when the cook hears the Greek coffee w/o sugar order, she begins to prepare the hummis appetizer and awaits my usual entree order--which is either a grilled vegetable sandwich or a cold platter of a variety of appetizers. I forget what the Greek name for that is; I think it is cold piccalila or something that sounds like that.
I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich. As I was enjoying my supper, I noticed a foreign speaking man of Asian decent wheeling a wheelchair up to the front of the restaurant. In the wheelchair sat an elderly woman with Katherine Hepburn looks. A few paces back was an elderly man slowly making his way up to the front of the restuarant. He was being supported by a handcarved cane. If I had to choose a celebrity look-a-like for him I would say he resembled Henry Fonda after the On Golden Pond days. So, to give you an image, Jackie Chan was wheeling Katherine Hepburn in a wheelchair while Henry Fonda followed behind with the aid of a cane.
I do not normally eavesdrop, but this time it was difficult not to do so. The foregin-speaking Asian man used his best charades to communicate the amount of the bill to the elderly woman and with a Parkinson shake she extended her hand and slipped the credit card into the Asian man's hand. He then passed it along to the cashier.
"Oh, sorry, "said a voice behind the counter. "We don't accept American Express." This caused an enigmatic look to surface on the Asian man's face.
"No express in America...wha" remarked the Asian man. Reaching down to the elderly woman he passed her card back to her and repeated, "No express. They not take express here in Greek place in America."
"What?" said the elderly woman as the Asian man reached down for her wallet only to find that she did not have enough cash to cover the bill. Either the elderly woman was shocked to find out that they did not accept American Express, or she could not understand the Asian man through his best attempts at English, or she did not actually hear the exchange because I did notice that she was sporting an ear piece which I do not think was a Bluetooth wireless device. During this time the Henry Fonda look-a-like stood staring out across empty tabletops oblivious to the "exchange." He also had an earpiece.
I could not help to think of how it was those damn advertisers' fault-- all those annoying commercials of celebrities paying for a bill and not being recognized until someone takes their American Express card and swipes it through the credit machine. The end of the commercial always is the same, "American Express; don't leave home without it." Just then the cook stuck her head out from behind the kitchen wall and greeted me. I motioned for her to come to my table and then I told her that I wanted to pay the elderly couple's bill anonymously.
When the cashier told the Asian man that everything was taken care of because someone paid for them, he sounded as though he had just become a contestant on the Price is Right.
"Wha? Who pay?" Jackie Chan turned to Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda and kept saying, "Someone here pay bill. We no have to pay."
With that Jackie Chan wheeled Katherine Hepburn around the restaurant as he said, "Thank you. Thank you. We don't know who pay, but thank you. Thank you." Katherine Hepburn had a shocked look on her face as she repeated, "Who paid? I don't understand." All the while Henry Fonda stood by the counter still staring out at the empty tabletops while supported by his handcarved cane.
As the three made their way out of the restaurant still bewildered by someone picking up their tab, I thought...American Express, a random act of kindness here in America expresses more than any words can communicate. Yes, Random Acts of Kindess--don't leave home without them!
I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich. As I was enjoying my supper, I noticed a foreign speaking man of Asian decent wheeling a wheelchair up to the front of the restaurant. In the wheelchair sat an elderly woman with Katherine Hepburn looks. A few paces back was an elderly man slowly making his way up to the front of the restuarant. He was being supported by a handcarved cane. If I had to choose a celebrity look-a-like for him I would say he resembled Henry Fonda after the On Golden Pond days. So, to give you an image, Jackie Chan was wheeling Katherine Hepburn in a wheelchair while Henry Fonda followed behind with the aid of a cane.
I do not normally eavesdrop, but this time it was difficult not to do so. The foregin-speaking Asian man used his best charades to communicate the amount of the bill to the elderly woman and with a Parkinson shake she extended her hand and slipped the credit card into the Asian man's hand. He then passed it along to the cashier.
"Oh, sorry, "said a voice behind the counter. "We don't accept American Express." This caused an enigmatic look to surface on the Asian man's face.
"No express in America...wha" remarked the Asian man. Reaching down to the elderly woman he passed her card back to her and repeated, "No express. They not take express here in Greek place in America."
"What?" said the elderly woman as the Asian man reached down for her wallet only to find that she did not have enough cash to cover the bill. Either the elderly woman was shocked to find out that they did not accept American Express, or she could not understand the Asian man through his best attempts at English, or she did not actually hear the exchange because I did notice that she was sporting an ear piece which I do not think was a Bluetooth wireless device. During this time the Henry Fonda look-a-like stood staring out across empty tabletops oblivious to the "exchange." He also had an earpiece.
I could not help to think of how it was those damn advertisers' fault-- all those annoying commercials of celebrities paying for a bill and not being recognized until someone takes their American Express card and swipes it through the credit machine. The end of the commercial always is the same, "American Express; don't leave home without it." Just then the cook stuck her head out from behind the kitchen wall and greeted me. I motioned for her to come to my table and then I told her that I wanted to pay the elderly couple's bill anonymously.
When the cashier told the Asian man that everything was taken care of because someone paid for them, he sounded as though he had just become a contestant on the Price is Right.
"Wha? Who pay?" Jackie Chan turned to Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda and kept saying, "Someone here pay bill. We no have to pay."
With that Jackie Chan wheeled Katherine Hepburn around the restaurant as he said, "Thank you. Thank you. We don't know who pay, but thank you. Thank you." Katherine Hepburn had a shocked look on her face as she repeated, "Who paid? I don't understand." All the while Henry Fonda stood by the counter still staring out at the empty tabletops while supported by his handcarved cane.
As the three made their way out of the restaurant still bewildered by someone picking up their tab, I thought...American Express, a random act of kindness here in America expresses more than any words can communicate. Yes, Random Acts of Kindess--don't leave home without them!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Pace (PAH-chay)
Yesterday I went to St. Patrick's Cathedral for Mass. As always I made my way over to the back, right side of the Cathedral and paused to light a candle in front of the St. Anthony of Padua shrine. Over the years, St. Anthony of Padua has become my appointed patron saint to intercede for me when it comes to my prayerful requests. Over the years he has always given me the feeling that he is with me and hears my prayers. Yesterday was no different.
I lit two candles and stood there quietly asking St. Anthony to watch over all children and to keep those in my life safe, healthy, and successful. I asked him also to help send me understanding about a particular situation in my life that has found my heart hurting. Whenever I pray to St. Anthony I never use those prayers found in the Catholic prayer books. I just use words that are in my heart and I silently speak as if he and I were sitting at Starbucks having a cup of tea (however, he being an Italian saint would probably have a cappuccino).
During the Mass there is a part that is called the Sign of Peace. I stood there, shook hands with my niece, Tara, who was the only other person in my pew. Suddenly I felt a pressence standing near my left side. I looked over to see a small boy standing next to me. He seemed as though he may have only been about 8-years-old. He had large brown eyes, brown hair that swept across his eyes, and an olive-skin complexion. He looked up at me, extended his hand, and with an Italian accent said, "Pace" (PAH-chay). He then walked across the aisle and back to his family that stood five pews behind me, but on the opposite side of the aisle. I wondered why this boy chose to extend the Handshake of Peace to me when he clearly did not go to anyone else's pew for the Sign of Peace.
After receiving communion, I knelt down praying again to St. Anthony, asking for the same prayerful requests as I did when I lit the two candles. I asked him if all would be fine, especially with the situation that has torn my heart. Then, a voice came up from the bottom of my heart and said, "Did you not notice the sign I sent to you? Children will always be a part of your life even though you have none of your own. I sent the boy with the Italian accent...to tell you Peace Be with You...Pace (PAH-chay)."
PAH-chay...Peace...and then there was a calmness that came over me as tears flowed down my cheek.
I lit two candles and stood there quietly asking St. Anthony to watch over all children and to keep those in my life safe, healthy, and successful. I asked him also to help send me understanding about a particular situation in my life that has found my heart hurting. Whenever I pray to St. Anthony I never use those prayers found in the Catholic prayer books. I just use words that are in my heart and I silently speak as if he and I were sitting at Starbucks having a cup of tea (however, he being an Italian saint would probably have a cappuccino).
During the Mass there is a part that is called the Sign of Peace. I stood there, shook hands with my niece, Tara, who was the only other person in my pew. Suddenly I felt a pressence standing near my left side. I looked over to see a small boy standing next to me. He seemed as though he may have only been about 8-years-old. He had large brown eyes, brown hair that swept across his eyes, and an olive-skin complexion. He looked up at me, extended his hand, and with an Italian accent said, "Pace" (PAH-chay). He then walked across the aisle and back to his family that stood five pews behind me, but on the opposite side of the aisle. I wondered why this boy chose to extend the Handshake of Peace to me when he clearly did not go to anyone else's pew for the Sign of Peace.
After receiving communion, I knelt down praying again to St. Anthony, asking for the same prayerful requests as I did when I lit the two candles. I asked him if all would be fine, especially with the situation that has torn my heart. Then, a voice came up from the bottom of my heart and said, "Did you not notice the sign I sent to you? Children will always be a part of your life even though you have none of your own. I sent the boy with the Italian accent...to tell you Peace Be with You...Pace (PAH-chay)."
PAH-chay...Peace...and then there was a calmness that came over me as tears flowed down my cheek.
Monday, August 10, 2009
An Instant, A Season, A Lifetime
I often would say that people are in one's life for an instant, a season, or a lifetime. Those "instant" people are ones we sit next to on airplanes, have as a waitress or waiter while eating out, chat with in a doctor's office, or run next to in a marathon race. Those "season" people are ones with whom we sit next to in class, the person we met on a summer vacation, workers we met during an internship, or "seasonal" friends who lead transient lives.
But those who are considered in one's life for a "lifetime" are the ones who make contact no matter how busy life becomes for him or her. They are there because they care unconditionally. They listen to problems no matter how late at night one calls; They offer perspective and reason unibiasly; they take time to make certain one is okay; They never waver in their support. They want nothing in return except for a lifelong friendship and they show that by making one feel as though he or she is an important part of their lives for always.
Sometimes people do not realize that their "I'm too busy" attitude turns a lifetime into a season which disappears in an instant.
But those who are considered in one's life for a "lifetime" are the ones who make contact no matter how busy life becomes for him or her. They are there because they care unconditionally. They listen to problems no matter how late at night one calls; They offer perspective and reason unibiasly; they take time to make certain one is okay; They never waver in their support. They want nothing in return except for a lifelong friendship and they show that by making one feel as though he or she is an important part of their lives for always.
Sometimes people do not realize that their "I'm too busy" attitude turns a lifetime into a season which disappears in an instant.
Children International
My brother-in-law has sponsored children through Children International for many years now. I remember him always displaying, on the fridge, photos of his sponsor children. He seemed so proud of these children over the years. Once they reach 19 years of age, then they "graduate" from the program and contact is lost. However, knowing that one has made an impact on a child's life and has guided him or her through random acts of kindness over the years, helps one to think that a child's life is changed...for the better.
At the end of July this year, I signed up to sponsor a child from India. My sponsor child just turned 9 years of age. His family only makes $76 a month. Along with my sponsor child, there is a Dad, a Mom, and two sisters. My sponsor child and his sister's have no beds and must sleep on the floor of their one room, dirt-floor, concrete wall, tile roof, house. The village has a community latrine.
Hopefully my sponsorship helps and can bring hope to this child and his family.
At the end of July this year, I signed up to sponsor a child from India. My sponsor child just turned 9 years of age. His family only makes $76 a month. Along with my sponsor child, there is a Dad, a Mom, and two sisters. My sponsor child and his sister's have no beds and must sleep on the floor of their one room, dirt-floor, concrete wall, tile roof, house. The village has a community latrine.
Hopefully my sponsorship helps and can bring hope to this child and his family.
Eat, Pray, Love
I am re-reading Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love. Oddly enough, I find a remarkable connection to the main character, Liz, this time. It is true when one states that a book may have no meaning until it enters one's life a second time because it has something to teach you. In that sense a book will choose its student when the student is ready to hear its message.
I have noticed that my inner gypsy is awakening once again. It has been a decade since I have done the traveling overseas lifestyle. However, I resumed that itch this past December when I went to London; now I look forward to a respite in Venice this November. Why do I feel more comfortable in Europe than I do in America? What is it that pulls me into a self-discovery mode whenever I travel?
Similiar to Gilbert's main character, Liz, I yearn to find a balance in life's pursuit of happiness. Someone once asked me, "What makes you happy?" I stood with "beginner's mind" written across my countenance.
I have noticed that my inner gypsy is awakening once again. It has been a decade since I have done the traveling overseas lifestyle. However, I resumed that itch this past December when I went to London; now I look forward to a respite in Venice this November. Why do I feel more comfortable in Europe than I do in America? What is it that pulls me into a self-discovery mode whenever I travel?
Similiar to Gilbert's main character, Liz, I yearn to find a balance in life's pursuit of happiness. Someone once asked me, "What makes you happy?" I stood with "beginner's mind" written across my countenance.
Leisure Reading
My youngest niece gave to me the book, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, written by Maureen Johnson. This was the first time my youngest niece gave to me something to read. I started the book one day and finished reading it by the following day. It amazed me how much I identified with "Aunt Peg" in the book. The character, Aunt Peg, had her niece, Ginny, follow instructions in 13 handwritten letters that were individually sealed in 13 separate blue envelopes. Ginny was not allowed to open the next letter until completing the task that was in the previous letter. Aunt Peg was terminally ill (unbeknownest to her entire family) and basically compiled life lessons for her niece, Ginny, into these 13 letters which were given to Ginny upon Aunt Peg's passing. The tasks in the letters saw Ginny traveling overseas to different countries. Through such travel, Ginny embarks on a self-discovery journey in the spirit and memory of Aunt Peg.
I always try to teach my nieces and nephews life lessons. I do the same for my many students. It is important for me to be an inspiration and guide...a positive role model...for the youth who cross my path. I hope that I am achieving my goals with regard to that. To accomplish that would mean to me that I led a successful life.
I always try to teach my nieces and nephews life lessons. I do the same for my many students. It is important for me to be an inspiration and guide...a positive role model...for the youth who cross my path. I hope that I am achieving my goals with regard to that. To accomplish that would mean to me that I led a successful life.
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