I’ve said many times before that I live in paradise. This tiny village offers everything my heart desires but most of all peace and quiet. Now, I am finding out that it offers more. That small town feel where you are not invisible is front and center here.
It is very conservative and they don’t like changes. Tradition roars like a lion here and the people are set in their ways. It wasn’t my way at all when I first walked in from a faraway land. I didn’t speak the language well and I was an outsider. It took a long time to break those barriers and to feel at home here. I do now.
However, there is something else that has taken root and I see it clearly now. I am now one of them and even though I don’t feel different something has changed. They (the villagers) have welcomed me into their hearts and it was clearly evident when I came home from my first OP. I was feeling alone but then the old lady from across the street brought me some homemade oatmeal cookies. It went straight to my heart.
Now, I am heading towards another OP next week. This morning I was busy packing and making sure I had everything I needed when the phone rang. It was the same lady and she asked if I was busy.
“Just busy packing.”
“Can you come to the back gate? I have something for you.”
“Sure, but I don’t look too good and my eyes are swollen from crying last night.”
“Oh why?”
“I’m afraid.”
“It will go fine, you’ll be ok.”
We met at the back gate and she hands me this beautifully packaged bag of fresh oatmeal cookies all tied up with a bow!
“Enough there for you to eat at home and to take some to the hospital if you need a snack there.”
I felt myself tearing up. I ran back inside and came out with the empty glass jar which had contained her homemade cherry jam.
“The jam was super delicious!”
“You’ll get another jar when you come back home and one more thing, if you need anything just call me. I’ll come and look after you!”
Ok, I could feel the waterfall starting to flow and I had to look away.
Then she added, “The neighborhood is suffering with you.” That is a literal translation but I think she meant, they are rooting for me.
Beautiful souls abound and when once I had thought that they were not MY KIND OF PEOPLE, they are showing me that I was wrong and in their own way they care. Yes, it is a small village but as far as “heart” goes they come across as giants!
The cookies will be put to good use and I will have some later today with a nice cup of coffee and thank my lucky stars for the people around here!
Have an amazing day.
