Each week we walk up, the three of us, to the CSA members only section of our local farm. And there she is. A halo of soft grey hair, reading glasses at hand. She greets us and I try to rush to give our family name, anxious to get our box of vegetables and ready to transfer from box to canvas bags to car to kitchen to refrigerator. But it's never quick. She winks at me and barely hears as I tell her my first name. Her attention is only for my littles. She asks what they've done today, where they've been. She asks the right questions. She listens to their answers.
She listens.
And they know it. Their eyes light up and their hands start gesturing about big waves or pointing to flip flops that match hers. They pick out a toy or a trinket from the car to show her. A dinosaur or a shark, sometimes just a special button. And her eyes stay on them. Even with a line out the door behind us.
She listens.
And my patience goes out the door, up the hill where the apple orchards are. I can see it fly away and dissipate like a cloud of dust. I can feel the people behind me roll their eyes and stamp their feet and wait impatiently.
But she still asks questions and my eyes can't really focus and I want my vegetables and fruit and I want it now and they keep talking.
Then they stop. She points to where our vegetables have been placed. We turn.
And the line of people is full of smiles.
My patience returns. My smile renewed.
She winks again.
And I listen.
SHARE!
A simple word.
A picture.
A poem.
Prose.
List.
A simple word.
A picture.
A poem.
Prose.
List.
LIVE!
To the fullest,
reflect on your blessings.
To the fullest,
reflect on your blessings.
CAPTURE!
each lingering moment,
harvest them and then
share them.
Encourage others.
This is what Bigger Picture Moments is all about.
each lingering moment,
harvest them and then
share them.
Encourage others.
This is what Bigger Picture Moments is all about.
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What a sweet lady! I love how you captured this moment between her and your little ones...and the bigger picture moment you found here too. It's so easy in this fast paced world to tap our feet and roll our eyes instead of listening, REALLY listening. Love this! (Also, we are part of a CSA too - best decision ever! I can't wait to pick up today's produce!)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful... it's really amazing how there are people who have such a beautiful aura surrounding them that we try to learn from them as well...
ReplyDeleteCorinne, I've been in that line more times than I can count, patient soaring out of my reach ... I've been that recipient of life lesson amid the smiles of kind strangers and ears that open and listen. It's so humbling. I love your honest here, your beautiful scene setting.
ReplyDeleteYour words paint a vivid picture here...and capture your 'moment' perfectly. The littles and our elders...yielding to their sense of time and standing 'in the moment' with them seldom disappoints!
ReplyDeleteSuch a good lesson! And so glad your kids were willing participants!
ReplyDeletePeople like this are few and far between.
ReplyDeleteDo you think as we get older and wiser, we'll be better able to smile slowly, listen deeply, and not worry about time? I seriously need this lady to teach me a lesson!
ReplyDeleteAnd that paragraph about your patience going out the door -- brilliant :)
what a great reminder. and of course, i can only imagine how important your kids feel after receiving her full attention!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you end this piece. Just reading the last line sent me back to the top to read it all over again. You paint quite a picture.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely moment, and how lucky you are to have such a farm in your vicinity, with such a lovely lady! And so well written, thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteSo many times i'm rushing through my day, and I know I'm the person waiting impatiently, who keeps on rushing without listening. Thank you for reminding me that it's important to listen and to interact with people. I find it interesting that our kids "get it" but somewhere between playing superheroes and becoming and adult we forget how to do it.
ReplyDelete