Sunday, May 27, 2012

Something To Think About

Dinner was over. Ruby was a bit restless, Sadie was still in the washroom with her mother. We went outside and Ruby crawled up in my lap and we sped along Dalhousie Street going for a ride. It had rained, a wicked hard rain, earlier and the streets had that wonderful, fresh, just washed smell. We got to the corner, turned around and headed back. Ruby was chatting with me, she's a talker, and laughing as we veered around the broken concrete on the sidewalk.

I really like these moment of sheer abandon, doing something that means nothing at all. Ruby loves them too. Sadie is also a new convert to the joys of having a friend in a wheelchair. At times I look like a float with one on my lap the other riding on the back of the chair. It's wonderful fun these trips. Wonderful, wonderful fun. I know I'm lucky. I know it. But something happened that shook me, to the core, shook me.

As we were riding back, I noticed a man, sitting in the shade of the building on a small step. He had a frayed Tim's cup beside him with the word 'Coins' pencilled on the inside white of the cup. He was watching us. Not staring at us, watching us, there is a mighty difference between those two things. As I approached, he waved to Ruby who didn't notice him as she had caught sight of her parents and Joe having come out of the restaurant. I didn't want him to feel ignored, and I knew that wasn't Ruby's intent, so I nodded acknowledgement of his greeting.

As I drove by, he spoke.

What he said was maybe the most profoundly sad thing I've ever heard.

"I was happy once too," he said.

9 comments:

theknapper said...

What a profound moment.

AkMom said...

oh wow. That made me tear up.
Very profound.

Anonymous said...

Oh my - such powerful and sad words. Makes your heart ache. There is enough love to go around - why are we so miserly with it. Thanks for sharing.

John R. said...

cherish your happiness everyone! thanks Dave....wow

Anonymous said...

oh. I think these things happen because you notice and that is so strong and important. L

Belinda said...

Wow, where is he? All around. He's the person who needs hope that happiness doesn't have to stay past.

Shan said...

Ouch.

Liz Miller said...

Whoa.

wendy said...

That felt like a punch in the gut!