Rachi and Ruthie

     As most of you may know, I gain great energy from being with and around people.  This week, the challenge that I chose was to meet someone new everyday and to have a meaningful conversation with them. This challenge was truly eye-opening because it seemed to embody the purpose of this blog.  The roller coaster that became this challenge showed me that there are incredible people in this world, with hurt and pain but also with joy and hope.  I want to share two stories that touched my heart, I hope that one of them will touch yours as well.  

Rachi’s Story:  I was sitting at the bus-stop on Tuesday evening, trying to wiggle my toes back in forth to ensure frost-bite did not take them over, awaiting the I-Xpress.  An older man walked across the street and peered past me to try to make out when the next bus was coming.  He could not see very well so he asked me how long it would take.  I explained to him that the last bus did not come and the next one was to arrive in 20 minutes.  He gratefully thanked me and sat in the seat next to mine.  He noticed the books I was carrying with the titles “India”/ “Travelling in South India” and he was intrigued.  He asked me why I was carrying the books, and I told him I was planning on travelling to Madurai, India for the summer.  His eyes seemed to catch fire and his lips began to move a million miles a minute.  He was quite excited to share his ancestry as he was originally from India.  After we talked for a while, I learned that his house was quite near mine, so we decided to brave the winter winds together and walk home instead of awaiting the bus.  As we walked, Rachi explained that he was married and had five children who remained in North India.  He had moved to Canada because they simply had no money and he had thought that Canada would provide new opportunities for himself and his family.  I asked him how his family was doing in India; he got very quiet at this point.  He stopped, pointed toward the sky and said “I am not sure. But I do know that that man up there will take care of them”.  As we started walking again, Rachi began telling me that it had been twenty years since he had spoken with his wife and children in India.  He had stopped getting letters and was not sure where they were.  He had heard rumours from other family members in India that his family was forced to move to the slums due to unpaid debts and his wife was working as a labourer for a rich family.  Rachi told me that his worst fear was that he would never see his family again.  He explained that he has saved all of the money that he has made so that one day, his family would have a good life.  The hope that Rachi held on to, after 20 years, was incredibly inspirational.  He continues to believe that his family will make it and one day, they will be together.  Near the end of our time together, I asked him what made him believe; I will never forget the words that came from his lips: “I believe because I love”.  

Ruthie’s Story:  As some of you might know, I work with a boy named Stephen.  Stephen is a wonderful young man with a great sense of humour, a mind that yearns to discover, and an unconditional love for animals of all kinds.  When Stephen laughs, you can’t help but follow because his laugh seems to carry a melody of pure joy.  Stephen was diagnosed with Asperger’s at the age of 7.  He doesn’t always understand social cues and he sometimes can get frustrated when there are too many lights or sounds going on at the same time.  I have worked with Stephen for the past two years and have learned an incredible amount of myself through being with him.  Late Saturday night, his mom called me frantically asking if I would come over in the mid-morning of the next day to be with Stephen while they had a few friends over for a visit.  

     Sunday morning came, I got dressed and headed out to see my friend, Stephen.  When I arrived, there were a lot more cars parked around the house than I had previously assumed.  I rang the doorbell and out came Stephen, arms wide, waiting for a hug.  I was ushered into the big house and soon learned it was actually a family gathering that I had been invited to. Stephen’s mother was worried about how Stephen would react to the large group of people so she wanted me there for support.  Stephen quickly brought me downstairs where the rest of the kids were playing games together.  I sat on the floor next to Stephen and his “favourite cousin of all, Ruthie” (as he described her).  Ruthie pushed away her long, shiny dark hair and peered up at me through emerald, green eyes that were hidden behind her thick-rimmed glasses.  She stuck out her sticky hand that had just been stuck in a bowl of jelly-beans and said, “Hi, it’s nice to meet you”.  Ruthie was only six years old, and still she seemed to understand Stephen better than he understood himself.  I watched as she played with her big cousin without fear or anxiety.  At one point, as we were playing a game of monopoly, Stephen began to get upset because he had to pay a fee for landing on a particular spot.  Ruthie grabbed his face with both her hands, looked into his eyes and blew.  Stephen closed his eyes, felt the air pass his face, and smiled.  He sat back down, began counting his money and handed the amount over.  I was utterly amazed.  This six year old girl seemed to just know Stephen. 

   After a few hours, as I was gathering my things to head off to work, I found Ruthie waiting to say goodbye.  I stooped down and gave her a big hug.  I told her that she was really great with Stephen and that I really enjoyed playing with them.  She grabbed my face much like she did to Stephen and said “He’s my friend…and so are you”; she then blew in my face and gave me a big, wet kiss. 

   From Rachi, I re-discovered the great power of love. From Ruthie, I learned the innocence and beauty not only of children, but of friendship as well.  What did you learn from the friends you met this week?