I have to share an
extra-ordinary experience I had on my trip a few days ago as I was travelling
from the Island to Vancouver by Greyhound bus.
extra-ordinary experience I had on my trip a few days ago as I was travelling
from the Island to Vancouver by Greyhound bus.
My heart swelled when I
eavesdropped in a conversation between a small girl and her young mother. The
child between four or five years old and the woman maybe in her later twenties
or early thirties, sitting a few rows behind me, carried on a conversation and
both their voices travelled easily.
eavesdropped in a conversation between a small girl and her young mother. The
child between four or five years old and the woman maybe in her later twenties
or early thirties, sitting a few rows behind me, carried on a conversation and
both their voices travelled easily.
From the time we left the
ferry terminal and all the way into the city, the young mother pointed out all
kinds of interesting things to see from the bus’s the window. For instance,
how beautiful the red brick-work looked on an old building we passed and the
gorgeous flowers in a well-loved garden that brightened the yard of a
tumble-down older home.
ferry terminal and all the way into the city, the young mother pointed out all
kinds of interesting things to see from the bus’s the window. For instance,
how beautiful the red brick-work looked on an old building we passed and the
gorgeous flowers in a well-loved garden that brightened the yard of a
tumble-down older home.
I began to follow her voice
and saw a huge, weirdly-shaped fig tree through her eyes that still had fruit hanging, a detail
I normally wouldn’t even have noticed. With the help of this smart and observant
woman both her daughter and I delighted in the sunflowers that grew taller than
the hedge in order to catch the rays of the sun. The darling tot would ask
questions in that delightful little-girl voice— like why were the flowers yellow.
It’s not something I’d ever wondered about before but I found myself waiting
with anticipation for her mother’s answer and I wasn’t disappointed. Without a moment’s
hesitation, she said, “They’re called Sunflowers. So therefore they have to be yellow,
right?”
and saw a huge, weirdly-shaped fig tree through her eyes that still had fruit hanging, a detail
I normally wouldn’t even have noticed. With the help of this smart and observant
woman both her daughter and I delighted in the sunflowers that grew taller than
the hedge in order to catch the rays of the sun. The darling tot would ask
questions in that delightful little-girl voice— like why were the flowers yellow.
It’s not something I’d ever wondered about before but I found myself waiting
with anticipation for her mother’s answer and I wasn’t disappointed. Without a moment’s
hesitation, she said, “They’re called Sunflowers. So therefore they have to be yellow,
right?”
I found myself nodding
happily and thinking… of course! And the
child laughed with glee and said. “Right!”
happily and thinking… of course! And the
child laughed with glee and said. “Right!”
Both her daughter and I
were entranced with each new feature of nature or beauty this woman noticed and
pointed out. I must admit to wearing a silly smile through this whole trip
where I enjoyed the running commentary.
were entranced with each new feature of nature or beauty this woman noticed and
pointed out. I must admit to wearing a silly smile through this whole trip
where I enjoyed the running commentary.
The only time I had to
hide my face and wipe my cheeks was when she told her baby, (I’m writing this verbatim since by this time I was making notes) “The world is so
beautiful. If you look close, you’ll see it everywhere. There’s bad—but the good
is so much bigger and better.”
hide my face and wipe my cheeks was when she told her baby, (I’m writing this verbatim since by this time I was making notes) “The world is so
beautiful. If you look close, you’ll see it everywhere. There’s bad—but the good
is so much bigger and better.”
I don’t know about you,
but I couldn’t help but think of how fortunate that angel was to have such a
smart, giving and darling mom. She wasn’t spending her time with her cell phone as her
main focus. Not once did she stop interacting with her daughter. Opening her
own eyes, she saw the beauty in the world and shared it. What a fortunate
little girl!
but I couldn’t help but think of how fortunate that angel was to have such a
smart, giving and darling mom. She wasn’t spending her time with her cell phone as her
main focus. Not once did she stop interacting with her daughter. Opening her
own eyes, she saw the beauty in the world and shared it. What a fortunate
little girl!
I have to admit that not
only did I eavesdrop, I also made notes. In my heart I knew one day
that child and her mother would appear in one of my books.
only did I eavesdrop, I also made notes. In my heart I knew one day
that child and her mother would appear in one of my books.
Do you also find characters for your books
from personal experiences?
from personal experiences?
 |
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A great reminder that we need to travel more slowly and really take time to look at the small moments in life and the beauty they give us when it is often least expected.
So true Caleb! Now I wish I'd done more of this myself….sigh!! Oh well, mayvbe this post will inspire a young mom today.
What a beautiful experience! How lovely that this young mom was so attentive and thoughtful and generous with her daughter.
It isn't every day that you witness such bonding between a parent and a child. The mom was certainly living in the moment.
And as an author -there you were, able to record such gentle comments.
That's beautiful, Mimi! I envy you being a part of that gentle wisdom and love if only from the outside. That mother deserves to be a HERO in your book!
Hi Jodie,
Sometimes I admit to living in a bubble… so I was estactic that this time I emerged long enough to have this wonderful treat. Trust me, I already have a role for this young mother in my new Xmas story. I've been plotting the book and so far hadn't quite decided on the heroine. It had to have been fate……I just got the shivers!
Hi Calisa
If you get a chance to read the Mimi Barbour Xmas book this year, called ( Shes Not You – not written yet) you'll meet her for yourself. A character like that is just too perfect not to give her a story!! Ever wondered if things are just meant to happen..
..??