Originally Posted by BlueMi
(Post 376341)
The most amazing thing happened today.
I went with my class of meeting partners (kindergartners that each of us is paired with) to an old folks home to sing today. We sand three songs, This Little Light of Mine, The Driedel(sp?) Song and Jingle Bells. I was happy while singing these, but it was after this that really made a difference.
We did an art project where we traced our hands on construction paper and wrote Holiday wishes and we taped them onto a giant wreath. So I traced my hand, and I wrote my message and showed it to this elderly man next to me. His name was Johnathan. He was probably around ninety years old, I didn't ask. He didn't seem to like talking, it was probably difficult for him. He clapped, though, to show approval. He pointed to my name at the bottom, and said it quietly. "Mira," he said. "Pretty." Then he clapped again. I smiled and thanked him.
Once I was finished, I offered to trace his hand. I traced his hand and cut it out and told him he could write whatever he wanted. He took a marker, and god it was so sad to watch, he had a hard time opening it. Then, slowly, one letter at a time... M... A... R... A. Mara. He was trying to write my name. He wrote my name.
I teared up.
I pocketed the hand, I didn't want to put it on the wreath. I wanted to keep it for me.
I realized too late that I should do something in return.
I grabbed Heather and quickly she traced my hand and I wrote 'Johnathan' all scribbly and we turned around...
He was leaving.
He was wheeling himself out, and our class was starting to leave.
I rushed after him, quietly calling his name, with Heather, but he didn't hear us. Finally, he stopped. I gave him the paper.
I told him to have a happy holidays.
And I hope that he looks back on my hand, the same way I look back at the end he wrote my name on.
I felt different all day.
Happy.
And sad.
I want to laminate the hand. And put it on my Christmas tree.
It just made me feel...
Good.
(:
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