Normally each morning I go through my local Tim Horton's drive thru for my tea, but the other morning I had to get gas so I decided to walk-in and grab it. The line-up was pretty long (not surprising since it is Tim Hortons), and at first I wasn't looking forward to the long wait. However a gentleman in front of me, who I am guessing was about 50 years old, began talking to me and not only did the line-up go by quickly, it put a smile on my face.
You see, the gentleman in front of me was not like me or most of us. I don't know enough about some of the conditions people are afflicted with, but I'd guess that he was in some way autistic. He turned around and looking at me, pointed to the bags of Doritos beside us, and asked, "Who is this?" He was referring to one of the Marvel characters advertised on the chip bag. I said, "Iron Man". He then said, "Yes, yes! Iron Man! He flies fast!".
He then asked, "Who's the guy with the hammer? I like the guy with the hammer!". I like him too! I responded, "Thor!" "Yes, yes! Thor," he said. "I like Thor!".
He then asked, "Who's the big, green guy who goes, UUUUUUUUUUHH?" and as he asked he made a very good imitation of The Hulk. I said, "I don't know. Who is that?" He said, "The Hulk. That's The Hulk!"
The line moved up and away from the chips, but not before he lined everything on the shelf up in a perfectly straight, neat way. I could see he was more anal than I am, and perhaps even more so than my 3 year-old great-nephew who likes to clean (but that's another story).
He then began asking me what all the signs around us said. Some I answered, some I let him answer. It was very obvious that he could read well, and was proud & happy to be able to. He got to the front of the line, and the lady behind the counter said, "Diet coke?" and he said, "Yes, please!". He handed her his toonie, grabbed his bottle of pop and left.
He may have left the gas station, but he also left me was a lasting impression. I thought about him several times during the day, and it kept bringing a smile to my face each time I did. I think sometimes, these people, whose lives seem so simple, have been truly blessed by God. Nothing is taken for granted. The simplest of things are enjoyed and create happiness for them. How different it is to my life where my daily routine goes completely unnoticed, and it's a rare occurrence to find joy in some simple, everyday thing. Most times the stresses of everyday life can make you forget about the joys of it.
But thanks to this man, for one day, I didn't let that happen. For one day I took pleasure in all of the little things that I normally take for granted. I wondered, "Would he have been happy to do this? Would he have been excited to see this?" There was nothing I could answer "NO" to. I'm sure this man would have enjoyed everything I came across that day.
It was a good day!
I hope I see him again sometime soon ....
You see, the gentleman in front of me was not like me or most of us. I don't know enough about some of the conditions people are afflicted with, but I'd guess that he was in some way autistic. He turned around and looking at me, pointed to the bags of Doritos beside us, and asked, "Who is this?" He was referring to one of the Marvel characters advertised on the chip bag. I said, "Iron Man". He then said, "Yes, yes! Iron Man! He flies fast!".
He then asked, "Who's the guy with the hammer? I like the guy with the hammer!". I like him too! I responded, "Thor!" "Yes, yes! Thor," he said. "I like Thor!".
He then asked, "Who's the big, green guy who goes, UUUUUUUUUUHH?" and as he asked he made a very good imitation of The Hulk. I said, "I don't know. Who is that?" He said, "The Hulk. That's The Hulk!"
The line moved up and away from the chips, but not before he lined everything on the shelf up in a perfectly straight, neat way. I could see he was more anal than I am, and perhaps even more so than my 3 year-old great-nephew who likes to clean (but that's another story).
He then began asking me what all the signs around us said. Some I answered, some I let him answer. It was very obvious that he could read well, and was proud & happy to be able to. He got to the front of the line, and the lady behind the counter said, "Diet coke?" and he said, "Yes, please!". He handed her his toonie, grabbed his bottle of pop and left.
He may have left the gas station, but he also left me was a lasting impression. I thought about him several times during the day, and it kept bringing a smile to my face each time I did. I think sometimes, these people, whose lives seem so simple, have been truly blessed by God. Nothing is taken for granted. The simplest of things are enjoyed and create happiness for them. How different it is to my life where my daily routine goes completely unnoticed, and it's a rare occurrence to find joy in some simple, everyday thing. Most times the stresses of everyday life can make you forget about the joys of it.
But thanks to this man, for one day, I didn't let that happen. For one day I took pleasure in all of the little things that I normally take for granted. I wondered, "Would he have been happy to do this? Would he have been excited to see this?" There was nothing I could answer "NO" to. I'm sure this man would have enjoyed everything I came across that day.
It was a good day!
I hope I see him again sometime soon ....