A light snow is falling. Sam and I got up real early before the snows came. He gave me that gotta go out Labrador moan so as soon as first light came we went off to the park. He found a group of Labrapoodles and other dogs racing around and he joined in the fray. Started speaking with a very intelligent woman - one of the dog owners who - to our mutual surprise - lived in Brunswick Gardens in Kensington, London, where I had lived many years ago. She had returned to New York to seek special medical treatment for a son who had a severe genetic illness. We talked so long about illness and kids and dogs and other challenging stuff that life throws in our path that my wife got worried that I had expired in the park. My wife came down to the park looking for me - and when I introduced her to this stranger she liked our new friend whom we may never see again. The woman said that my speaking with her made her feel less alone with the sad condition of her son. I admired her attitude - no self pity, no poor me in it -the fact that she was positive about lifes possibilities in the middle of a challenging situation made me admire her. I dont know if I could have had this kind of personal conversation - an exchange of experiences with a stranger when I was young. In our youth we guard so many secrets and later find that what seemed so private - like a painful upbringing or a family illness - is no secret but something we share with the rest of the human race. The great British novelist EM Forster said only connect and I now find the act of connection with others one of the great rewards of living. I suppose that is why I so enjoy putting my thoughts down on Facebook and making connections.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 19:42:59 +0000
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