If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.
Margaret Thatcher
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Sadly, true!
After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say: "I want to see the manager!"
Willliam S. Burroughs
Willliam S. Burroughs
Apples and humanity . . .
Every season has it's promise but I think I like Fall the best. Even in California, we get some cooler crisp to the evenings and hope we actually get brisk weather for the Winter holidays. The best part of the Fall is apple season! We live about 45 minutes away from Oak Glen where you can go right to the orchards and purchase apples just picked that very morning.
We have a couple of favorite places to go but the best one is run by an elderly couple and their dog, Daisy. The gentleman will not let you buy apples until you try them and listen to his stories. We have learned to put aside the time to enjoy this visit. There have been people who show up, mentally push the man aside, and demand so many pounds of this and that apple and refuse his offer of a sample. His face remains calm but you can see feelings of hurt and regret about a moment lost.
It is not only the stories and the apples we go for but the kindness and respect the couple show for each and every customer. They remember us from visit to visit. We cherish these times for the unique apples he raises, our drive up to the mountains, and the stories that go with each variety of apple.
We developed a longing for a specific apple that only shows up towards the end of the season. It was kind of funny as in our anticipation of this event, we kind of rushed our joy in the many types we purchased and sampled in the months before. Yes, we got a bushel of the desired, long-awaited apple. No, it was not as splendid as we remembered. It was unusual, not often seen/heard of, but not quite as tasty as some of the previous harvests.
I think we treat life this way, too. We look so forward to one, specific event and just touch on all the potential happiness on the way to it.
We have a couple of favorite places to go but the best one is run by an elderly couple and their dog, Daisy. The gentleman will not let you buy apples until you try them and listen to his stories. We have learned to put aside the time to enjoy this visit. There have been people who show up, mentally push the man aside, and demand so many pounds of this and that apple and refuse his offer of a sample. His face remains calm but you can see feelings of hurt and regret about a moment lost.
It is not only the stories and the apples we go for but the kindness and respect the couple show for each and every customer. They remember us from visit to visit. We cherish these times for the unique apples he raises, our drive up to the mountains, and the stories that go with each variety of apple.
We developed a longing for a specific apple that only shows up towards the end of the season. It was kind of funny as in our anticipation of this event, we kind of rushed our joy in the many types we purchased and sampled in the months before. Yes, we got a bushel of the desired, long-awaited apple. No, it was not as splendid as we remembered. It was unusual, not often seen/heard of, but not quite as tasty as some of the previous harvests.
I think we treat life this way, too. We look so forward to one, specific event and just touch on all the potential happiness on the way to it.
Judge not . . .
Over the years, we have sponsored children/seminarians through the Catholic Foundation for the Children and Aging. Someone, looking at the photo of 'my' little girl in Peru, remarked, "She looks pretty well-dressed to be needing your financial help. I heard the same remark from someone when my mother was showing him pictures taken during World War II in Germany. He said, "I heard everyone was hungry and sick. You all don't look that bad."
Both people judged by the picture. I have come to find out that when a child gets assigned a sponsor through the above-named organization, everyone rejoices for them and the whole village/neighborhood loans them the best for the photo. They might be poor and in need but they want to look nice. Same with my mother. She said that when anyone took a picture, people pulled their lives away from the war for the moment and spruced up the best they could.
In both instance, people judged by what they saw and left their opinion at the superficial level. We have all been guilty of that, from time to time, and you have to wonder what terrific people you will never become friends with because you judged hastily. There is a lot of evil in the world today. It is a shame to miss out on including all the good people you can find in your life.
Both people judged by the picture. I have come to find out that when a child gets assigned a sponsor through the above-named organization, everyone rejoices for them and the whole village/neighborhood loans them the best for the photo. They might be poor and in need but they want to look nice. Same with my mother. She said that when anyone took a picture, people pulled their lives away from the war for the moment and spruced up the best they could.
In both instance, people judged by what they saw and left their opinion at the superficial level. We have all been guilty of that, from time to time, and you have to wonder what terrific people you will never become friends with because you judged hastily. There is a lot of evil in the world today. It is a shame to miss out on including all the good people you can find in your life.
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