Nene

So I've been drinking Whipped Cream Vodka in my lemon drops tonight...got stood up by the Niece.  And since I have a few choice words to say about my sister....I think I'll just share a song quote and a special experience that happened a few months ago.

The song quote : "When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look, but it was gone. I cannot put my finger on it now. The child is grown, the dream is gone. I have become comfortably numb."
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I was driving to K's and R’s house for dinner October 28th, 2012 and as I turned down one of the streets close to their house, I saw this little 4ft 9in Asian lady (who couldn’t have weighed more than 90lbs)  standing over her grocery bags and panting.  She looked to be in her 70’s. It was evening, but the sun was still out and the way the sunlight lit her up through the trees, I couldn’t help but stare at her.  I pulled my truck alongside her, rolled down the window and asked her if I could give her a ride. 

Her English was a little broken and it was difficult to understand her, so I put the truck in Park, hopped out, walked around and introduced myself. I asked her if I could give her a ride and that she was carrying so much.  She said “I’m ashamed, do you know me?”  I told her that I didn’t know her, but that I had the feeling she lived relatively close.  She asked if I knew where she lived, and I told her no. She asked if I lived around there, and I told her that I was going to dinner at my friends just down the street.  She said that she didn’t know me, and I said “That’s ok, my name is D and I want to give you a ride home”.  She again said that she was ashamed, and that walking was good for her.  “My name is Nene, and I am 88 years old”.  HOLY COW!!!  I want to be this woman when I’m her age!  I pretty much told her that, and she said that she walks a couple hours a day, doesn’t eat beef or pork and drinks lots of water.  She loves to walk in the rain and carries an umbrella.  I laughed and told her how much I love to walk in the rain without an umbrella.  I told her that if I was carrying an umbrella, I’d do my Gene Kelly impression of “Singing in the Rain”. She laughed over that one (hey, I’m pretty good…she’d be impressed with my jumping in puddles routine!).

She then started to tell me about her life in Germany and how she picked up her good habits.  She has a son in London who asks after her. She again said that she was ashamed.  I told her that it was my honor to offer her assistance and that it’s such a joy to be talking to her. She didn’t accept my ride, but I can’t help thinking about her and how independent she is.  All I did was take 10 minutes out of my day, and I ended up with a memory to last a lifetime. 

I’m also thinking about our society where people are afraid to accept a ride because they don’t know the character of the person offering it.  Or worse, where people see other people struggling and don’t stop to offer assistance.  It always amazes me to hear stories of cars driving by people who are lying on the ground and they don’t stop to make sure the person is ok.  Granted, I have an advantage because I carry a gun, so I’m not so worried about people messing with me, and it does give me more opportunities to stick my neck out.  

I would want to know that if it was my Mother, that someone with a kind heart would stop and ask her if she needed a ride. 

But the really cool thing was that I was in the moment and I didn't let myself pass it by. I can't tell you how many times I've let certain moments slip through my fingers, never to get that moment back. I look back and regret that I didn't have the guts or courage or intelligence to see the moment for what it was...golden...and now it's gone.

So these days, I try and keep my eyes open for the next opportunity to make a memory that will last my lifetime.