SOCIAL MEDIA

Touching Lives

5.29.2007
About two weeks ago while working at the bakery a young couple of about 16/17 came in for some scones and coffee. They had just been to a performance at the Center for the Arts building across the street and were offering their reviews to me free of charge. Extremely chatty with me, asked me lots of questions, lots of giggles, and the thing that I remember most about them is the life that was was just simply oozing out of them. The young man was tall and thin, had an edgy, hip hair cut, wore a long skinny scarf and carried himself very well, his female friend was more reserved, a bit shy and lots sweet. They ordered their scones and helped themselves to their coffees at the coffee bar making several trips back and forth to add more and more sugar and creamer to their cups, (bringing a smile to my heart). Each time, one would be sure to catch my eye and smile...the young man would say something to me that was meant for me to acknowledge his existence and all that he had to offer this world, this moment. And I did. I went home with the memory of these kids in my mind and heart. I said to Ethan that I thought that some of his students were in the bakery today scoping me out, I explained them and he knew immediately who they were. We laughed and he shared stories about the young man with me...how he brings a briefcase to class. How the young woman with him was his girlfriend and that she is an incredible writer, especially for someone so young.

Yesterday we attended the young man's visitation as he had committed suicide earlier this week. It just breaks my heart that someone so full of life and with so much to offer the world could have such a troubled heart and feel that there was no other way out. I can only imagine how this young man's mother feels, his family, those that love him. I only saw this young man but once and he brought warmth, laughter and a general feeling of goodness to me and my day. I wish that I would have come right out and said that to them both, that I would have thanked them for their smiles, their interest in life and living on that particular day.
cherity said...

Wow! How devasatating! Some things are so hard to understand...

Tobey said...

what a touching story Jenny. I think it is Patty Larkin that has a song that is something like that....title escapes me just now, but it was a while ago now, you are making me want to go find the CD (somewhere in a box no doubt...) but something about missing the moment...There is also a new Emerson Drive song out called th ? the Momment?? maybe? heard it yesterday...I am having a major brain freeze on music today!

It is sad to think that some folks just have so much bottled up inside...hidden away from the world, and unable to get help or just know that there are times that everyone feels that way....so many beautiful people have been lost...