Monday, 10 April 2006
The Bookends of Life
As I left my apartment for a quick trip to the corner deli, there was a nanny pushing a stroller with a kid about one year old. When I opened the gate, the kid suddenly raised his arm, waved at me and with a big smile on his chubby, little face, he shouted, “HI.”
About a 50 feet further on, another kind of nanny was helping a 90-year-old who, with the additional aid of a walker, was slowly making her way along the sidewalk. Still grinning from my encounter with the kid, I said, “HI.” The old lady’s face lit up like sunshine and she said “HI” too.
On a glorious spring afternoon with crocuses and daffodils decorating curb areas around trees that were preparing to burst into green any day now - the bookends of life.
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 02:53 AM | Permalink | Email this post
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Indeed so true Ronni !! :)
Posted by: Paul | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 03:58 AM
You surely had the start to a fine morning, Ronni. Great!
Posted by: Cop Car | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 06:10 AM
What a sweet story Ronni. A little child's friendly greeting made your sunny day even brighter..
Posted by: Chancy | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 07:27 AM
One of memories of living in NYC is how people seemed so different on the first day when you could go out without your winter coat on. As you went walking with just a jacket, not an overcoat...and with no mittens or scarves...you found people meeting your eyes as you walked past, and exchanged smiles with complete strangers.
Nothing beats New York during that 3 weeks out of the year when the weather is actually perfect!
Posted by: Elisa Camahort | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 10:33 AM
Good for you! It is wonderful when your smiles are returned, or when you get one unexpectedly.
Posted by: kenju | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 12:34 PM
Nice story. Smiles bounce around like sunshine, often because of sunshine.
(Belated HB! I'm just crappy at birthdays. Ask my kids and grandkids.)
Posted by: dus7 | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 07:54 PM
How beautiful. Maya Angelou has said that we should always smile at those who pass, as we never know who may have just hung up the phone with the doctor, who told her that she has only six months to live. A smile, or any genuinely enthusiastic gesture, is the most treasured gift you can receive and pass on.
And you did the receiving and the recycling all in one walk! What a glorious day.
Posted by: Amanda Marlaena | Monday, 10 April 2006 at 11:21 PM
I echo Amanda Marlaena's sentiments and words of Maya Angelou. It takes such a little effort to offer a smile, the reward in return can be priceless. Have seen the most fierce expression on a perfect stranger dissolve into a warm response. Would that more would take that initiative for the days when I may be neglectful of taking that action myself.
Liked the book ends analogy; lends itself well to visual imagery. Wonder what Claude might do with that picture?
Posted by: joared | Tuesday, 11 April 2006 at 01:42 AM
It is absolutely amazing what a smile will do! When you're smiling, people smile back and it gets contagious. What a great start to a glorious spring day Ronni!
Posted by: Melinda | Tuesday, 11 April 2006 at 12:15 PM
A lovely post, Ronni. Thanks
Posted by: Claude | Wednesday, 12 April 2006 at 03:33 AM
. . . and your smile reverberates across the Internet . . .
Posted by: lorigrace | Thursday, 20 April 2006 at 06:40 AM