Blue Scarf

I am very grateful for the experience of cleaning out my friend’s home and for trying to get my tenant uncluttered.  While I am far from simplicity, I am gaining on it.  I have been fortunate to have many wonderful people pass in and through my life.  Many have felt the need to give me something for what they felt was a step up in their own lives. These are important to me, but useful, artistic, or of value, maybe not.   An example, I was on a standing near the back platform on train coming back from Norway.  I had been listening to the chatter of folks trying to hook up.  Many needed to feel attractive to someone if only for the duration of the travel. I had been making mental notes about what I thought each would look like and finally I my curiosity got to me and I turned around.  Some must have been desperate and others, the winners, were making great progress in the connection and were bumping into each other as the train jerked.  In the midst of this group was a young woman rather looking at the ground rather than the wonderful scenery?   Could I just leave that alone… if you say yes, you do not know me.  Using the techniques of “hooking up” without “what’s your sign”, “come here often etc.” or letting her think that I was really on the make,   I made contact.  She was young.  Just out of high school. Had been back packing in England and decided to come across to Europe and found it was much more expensive than she thought.  She had 3 more days and $10.  “I’ll be alright I’ll be alright” she insisted. She was going to be a dancer and lived in Chicago.  She was thin and short and had lots of brown hair and when we talked about life and spirituality and being your own person, I was pretty sure she would make it someplace if not the dance.  But $10 for 3 days was going to put her in a hungry place.  As a backpacker, I knew she could sleep but eat, not so easily.  I watch her gear while she went to WC and fussed with my own cash to see what I could find in US and located $50.  I then tried to locate an entrance into her gear with the now lovers looking on in suspect.  There was nothing to do but the direct approach.  Her station for the ferry was coming soon and I picked up her back pack for her and handed her the money.  She would not take a cent unless she had my address.  I scribbled my address; she took the money and was gone.  I of course had credit cards, had worked 10 yrs. Etc. and while this gesture was a little inconvenient, I was going to be fine.  About 3 months later, a small package arrived at the house from Chicago.  Five $10 bills and a hand knitted blue scarf with a note, you were there when I needed and I got home with 4 cents.  I will pay this forward someday.  I was thirty-two when this happened and I have the scarf in my closet and I never see it that I am not reminded you only get a small window to step up to something that might change another’s live.   I’m keeping the scarf but out goes many “have to give you something” gifts of greater financial worth.