Helping Those in Need
- At January 12, 2018
- By admin
- In Annes Letters
0
Dear Family and Friends,
My apartment lies next to a mental hospital. This neighbor is small and family-run institution, which has an excellent reputation for its attentive care and concern. There are inpatients, of course, but there are also those who come regularly for check-ups, sometimes on a daily basis. One such is a woman with rather wild attire. I often see her heading to the hospital dressed in amazing outfits, such as a fluffy blouse with huge vivid chartreuse and orange flowers, along with skin-tight red and black plaid trousers, blue and pink striped stockings, yellow shoes and a wide-brimmed purple hat. She is extremely nervous and talks incessantly to herself, as she scurries along, inevitably puffing away on a cigarette. I have grown rather fond of her, even though we have never spoken. I like her sincerity, her total honesty in being precisely who she is with no pretenses. I also feel she gives a needed and rather exotic flavor to the neighborhood.
One of my free-time delights is wandering the narrow, winding streets surrounding my home. One day as I exploring a small alleyway, I saw two figures huddled on a fire escape. One of them was a rather chubby man in filthy sweat pants and a torn shirt. He was talking non-stop, even as he blubbered loudly, occasionally wiping away tears on his sleeve.
And who was next to him? Who was sitting very close, listening intently to every word the poor man was saying? Who was rubbing his back, reassuring him, saying, “You’ll be all right. Everything’ll work out. Just you wait and see. I know it. I just know it. Everything’ll be just fine.” The total attention and loving care that the little extravagant dresser was pouring out to that distraught man were palpable. It touched me to the core. Even though she obviously had tremendous insecurities of her own, this precious lady was able to open her heart wide and give fully to someone with even greater needs.
Wherever and whenever, Love hungers to be felt, directed, and accepted. It only requires those who are willing to do so.
Love,
Anne
My apartment lies next to a mental hospital. This neighbor is small and family-run institution, which has an excellent reputation for its attentive care and concern. There are inpatients, of course, but there are also those who come regularly for check-ups, sometimes on a daily basis. One such is a woman with rather wild attire. I often see her heading to the hospital dressed in amazing outfits, such as a fluffy blouse with huge vivid chartreuse and orange flowers, along with skin-tight red and black plaid trousers, blue and pink striped stockings, yellow shoes and a wide-brimmed purple hat. She is extremely nervous and talks incessantly to herself, as she scurries along, inevitably puffing away on a cigarette. I have grown rather fond of her, even though we have never spoken. I like her sincerity, her total honesty in being precisely who she is with no pretenses. I also feel she gives a needed and rather exotic flavor to the neighborhood.
One of my free-time delights is wandering the narrow, winding streets surrounding my home. One day as I exploring a small alleyway, I saw two figures huddled on a fire escape. One of them was a rather chubby man in filthy sweat pants and a torn shirt. He was talking non-stop, even as he blubbered loudly, occasionally wiping away tears on his sleeve.
And who was next to him? Who was sitting very close, listening intently to every word the poor man was saying? Who was rubbing his back, reassuring him, saying, “You’ll be all right. Everything’ll work out. Just you wait and see. I know it. I just know it. Everything’ll be just fine.” The total attention and loving care that the little extravagant dresser was pouring out to that distraught man were palpable. It touched me to the core. Even though she obviously had tremendous insecurities of her own, this precious lady was able to open her heart wide and give fully to someone with even greater needs.
Wherever and whenever, Love hungers to be felt, directed, and accepted. It only requires those who are willing to do so.
Love,
Anne
