What are the holidays without Christmas trees, Black Friday and tasteful decor?
Well... the answer is: the holidays are a time to cherish, with those whom you hold dearest. It doesn't matter how big or bright your Christmas tree is, how many gifts you give or get or how much food occupies your tables. The holidays are a time of the year to be grateful and to show that immense gratitude through love, kindness and warmth; things that you cannot buy.
About a year ago, during the post-holiday season, I was out briefly, buying a few necessities. I noticed a family standing in line behind me. There were two little girls (pretty sure they were sisters around age 11 and 8 maybe) and I'm assuming that their mom and dad were the man and woman standing with them. One of the little girls wanted a balloon. She really wanted that balloon lol but her mom and dad, I'm assuming, were unable to get it for her. I had extra money. I stood there, contemplating whether or not buying a balloon for them would be alright, because I didn't know them and I did not want to intrude in any way. After standing there overthinking it, as I was about to check out, I went ahead and bought the little girl the balloon that she'd been pointing at. There was no way that I was going to leave her little sister out, so I asked her if her sister wanted one as well, if it was ok. I wasn't completely sure how to communicate with them, due to a language barrier (they did not speak much English) so I had to gesture with my hands mostly. I bought her sister a balloon of her choosing as well. They were smiling so much - so happy. Thinking about it now is emotional because they were only balloons and yet, it made them so, so happy in that moment - which led to their mother and father smiling. It was such a warm smile.
Another time, in the thick of the Christmas season, about 4 years ago, I was in different area, a big store in the canned goods aisle. I was looking for something but the aisle was packed with people and I couldn't move. It was like everyone decided to come out at the same time and it was madness. Anyways, I saw this blond woman who looked visibly distraught. She seemed distracted but was looking for something or maybe just looking at things in the aisle. I don't know. I didn't know what was wrong. I don't remember what I said to her at the beginning but we noticed each other. I don't know if I asked her if she was ok or what but somehow she ended up saying something before telling me that she had just lost her father. When she spoke, I could clearly see that she was becoming emotional but trying to hold it together. My eyes are literally watering typing this. I consoled her and I told her that it was going to be ok. I told her that twice. I was looking at her face. Her eyes were red around the rim and like a kind of ocean-like blue. It registered on her face what I said and we stared at each other for a long time, it felt. This interaction couldn't have been more than a few seconds, before she gestured a nod, walked away and disappeared in the large crowd of people with their winter coats, hats and faces. I stood in the aisle, with the chaotic crowd of people, blinking away the hint of tears and trying to find the person I had entered the store with, through the busy shuffle.
It is ok to see someone who has nothing in common with your appearance or nothing in common with your language, as a fellow human being. It's how things should be. The divisiveness that is often witnessed online and sometimes in person is enough to give anyone a headache. I mean, it's so depressing. I shared this because the holiday season is approaching and those things came to mind and also because....there is so so much negativity out there right now.
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| not sure what Homer is up to in this episode but this made me laugh. |