Lessons from Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uq_JqI_T4U&feature=related

I made my last post private access. That was the last time I'll be posting photos of my grandchildren, for obvious reasons.

For the record, there were no mean comments made, nor anything else said or done that was inappropriate. Everyone here was extremely sweet.

I just wanted everybody to know that Kenny is doing very well, nearly a year after his trouble, and developing healthily and happily, growing strong.

I'm very grateful for all of your best wishes, thoughts, and prayers for my grandson. I spent many a sleepless night worrying about him, and about my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. There is no doubt in my mind that you played a significant part in his survival and recovery, and his continued thriving.

To all of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This evening I stopped by the local Wal-Mart Supercenter to get a loaf of bread. That's all I needed, so I walked straight to the bread aisle, picked up a loaf and went to the self-checkout lane. In front of me was a young man, maybe early- to mid-twenties, about to pay for his few purchases. He punched the "Finish" button, and happened to glance up and see me standing there, patiently (seriously, patiently) waiting my turn.

He asked me, "Is that all you have?" I kinda smiled and nodded, and started to say something, when he suddenly took the bread from me, scanned it, placed it with his items and paid for everything. I was standing there, literally frozen and speechless, when he picked up the bread, placed it back in my arms, smiled, and said to me, "God bless. Have a great evening!"

When I could speak, I told him thank you, and wished him a great evening, too.

I walked to my car with tears in my eyes.

The last few months, and the last couple of weeks especially, have been pretty rough. I had lost a LOT of faith in the inclination toward good of the people around me and humanity in general, becoming increasingly discouraged, depressed and withdrawn.

And then this happened.

This simple little gesture by a complete stranger--a young one, at that--over a dollar loaf of bread.

What's the world coming to?

I've been a long-time reader of one of the blogs here in the MyOpera community--one that I've enjoyed completely, even though I haven't always agreed with some of the viewpoints and opinions expressed therein. I've seen this blogger put down my country, the leaders of my country, my fellow countrymen and women, and other things that I hold near and dear.

Through it all, I have respected his opinion and his right to express it in whatever way he sees fit.

Shortly after my last post, I found that I had been blocked from this blogger's pages.

That's okay.

I don't have to agree with his opinions to respect them. And even though I may not agree with him, like the rest of those who have done so, I will fight to the death to preserve his right to hold and express his opinions if called upon to do so.

Which I expect will happen sooner rather than later, by the looks of things.

That's Elton John, singing one of his better songs.

I went to high school in a very, very small town. (There were only 39 kids in my graduating class. That's how small this town is.) When I was about 15 or so, there was this boy with whom I was best friends. He had taught himself to play the guitar, and would occasionally play and sing songs for a few of us in social settings. He wasn't a popular guy. Kinda short, stocky, long hair, average intelligence, and not a jock by any stretch of the imagination. Just a nice, friendly boy.

One day, his family just up and moved to Houston, Texas, barely giving him the chance to say goodbye. I thought that would be that.

He started calling me from Houston. (Back then, long-distance calls like that were expensive.) During one call, we were talking about music, and he asked me about my favorite song. At the time, it was the song in the video. Shortly after that, his mom told him to get off the phone, so we said goodbye.

About a month later, he called me again, and told me he had something for me. I heard him put the receiver of the phone down, and then I heard his guitar and the opening chords of "Your Song". He played and sang the song to me over the phone while I cried.

This teenage boy had worked for a month to learn a song to play for me, just because I liked it.

For no other reason than that I liked it.

He didn't expect anything from me. Nothing at all.

It is probably one of the most selfless gifts I've ever received. And one that means so much to me.

And taught me so much.