I often took walks through the complex it was very peaceful.
The Eucalyptus leaves were scattered along the sidewalk . A
young girl was doing her daily piano practice, it was lovely.
A light rain started to fall. I turned to walk back to my apartment.
That is when I saw a tiny, frail very old Asian lady with a shopping cart
pulled up to the wooden fence that surrounded her patio. She was climbing
into the shopping cart and unsuccessfully trying to climb over the fence.
Someone hurried past me trying to avoid the rain said "she has locked
herself out." as they continued to make a run for it. ( the office was closed)
I went over to her and discovered she didn't speak a bit of English.
I made a motion to her, holding my hand up as if saying wait ! wait!
I ran to my apartment and got my step ladder. On returning the
tiny frail very old lady was standing in the middle of the shopping cart
with rain falling all around her and looking in my direction.
I steadied the ladder, helped her out of the cart and proceeded to
guide her up the latter. It felt like she would break if I wasn't careful.
Getting her over the top was tedious as I whispered repeatedly "Oh dear"
After watching her disappear on the other side of the fence I walked back home thinking of
how many things could have gone terribly wrong.
About a week later I was again walking through the complex and I saw the tiny woman
walking towards me. When she stood in front of me she raised her hands, cupped together, and
stretched them forward offering me what she was holding as she repeated a single word in
in her own language that I didn't understand. I knew that she was saying thank you.
In her hands was a simple but perfect pine cone. I thought it was truly a beautiful gift. My heart was touched and humbled. I later learned that a pine cone is an international symbol for love.
How precious are the memories of sincere love and appreciation.
