I love reading your stories. Sometimes I read bits outloud to my husband. So many life lessons you have experienced over the years from people that you meet.
Almost as good as knowing Yusif is knowing the world is full of people like him. Enoch, Abakwe, Sevinje, Julius, Richard, Sveta, Robert, Emma, Hudson, Aygun, and entire battalions of village women who have laughed at me, but with me, and always shared the best they had.
Especially after I realized the village ladies were laughing with me as I changed my daughter’s nappies. (My toddler daughter was often my travel buddy. Now I have a dog.)
I traveled many places with my daughter when she was young, although not exactly in diapers, but close. I often wonder what people thought, but they were sure nice to us everywhere we went. I’m glad I did it when I had the fortitude and the patience. I’m not sure how much she remembers as an adult, but I think we had a pretty good time.
When she was born, we could only get cloth diapers, but we kept a few disposables for the long trip home and sometimes the airlines had a few, which we kept in reserve.
I posted a story about her during one of our flights home:
He was a small man, with a Charlie Chaplin sort of face from a lifetime of enduring life, and yet despite every reason for losing his goodness, his harsh life seemed to reinforce and multiply it.
WOW! Where did we get so skewed not to understand that immediately? I'm as gobsmacked as you. Trust has become so ... what can I say ... tenuous in our culture, we prepare for disappointment by making extra keys or whatever. I guess I've never really experienced losing someone's trust that deeply after I've screwed up ... so many times. Or maybe I just went along, trying to do better and not realizing what I'd done to myself.
I love reading your stories. Sometimes I read bits outloud to my husband. So many life lessons you have experienced over the years from people that you meet.
Thank you, thank you. It means a lot to be able to share. What good are stories if you can’t share them?
You could teach a Humanities course in college, Switter. Thank you.
I’m still only a student, John.
Yusif is the best.
I am happy you got to meet people like him. They are the real heroes.
You are lucky to know Yusif!
Almost as good as knowing Yusif is knowing the world is full of people like him. Enoch, Abakwe, Sevinje, Julius, Richard, Sveta, Robert, Emma, Hudson, Aygun, and entire battalions of village women who have laughed at me, but with me, and always shared the best they had.
Then you are truly blessed!
Especially after I realized the village ladies were laughing with me as I changed my daughter’s nappies. (My toddler daughter was often my travel buddy. Now I have a dog.)
I traveled many places with my daughter when she was young, although not exactly in diapers, but close. I often wonder what people thought, but they were sure nice to us everywhere we went. I’m glad I did it when I had the fortitude and the patience. I’m not sure how much she remembers as an adult, but I think we had a pretty good time.
My daughter loves to hear the stories.
When she was born, we could only get cloth diapers, but we kept a few disposables for the long trip home and sometimes the airlines had a few, which we kept in reserve.
I posted a story about her during one of our flights home:
https://switters.substack.com/p/flightplan
❤
Wow. What a man. Thank you for this story.
There are many like him.
He was a small man, with a Charlie Chaplin sort of face from a lifetime of enduring life, and yet despite every reason for losing his goodness, his harsh life seemed to reinforce and multiply it.
These stories are SO MEANINGFUL and precious. Thank you for the lessons!
WOW! What a lesson in trust! What a man!
WOW! Where did we get so skewed not to understand that immediately? I'm as gobsmacked as you. Trust has become so ... what can I say ... tenuous in our culture, we prepare for disappointment by making extra keys or whatever. I guess I've never really experienced losing someone's trust that deeply after I've screwed up ... so many times. Or maybe I just went along, trying to do better and not realizing what I'd done to myself.
OOOO Much more beautiful than physical beauty!
And unforgettable. I, too strive to be as thoughtful as Yousef.
It's trust, and without, you, and he, are 100% right.
Human Bonding.
Just beautiful, Sir Switter. Thank you for a beautiful start to the day. So good, we've shared it here: https://substack.com/profile/68304299-big-e/note/c-77871236
Oh, Yusif. Thank you. And thanks to you, Switter...tears.
2 or more reminders here; once again how fortunate we are. AND trust. It used to be inherent and I still want that. Is there anything more important?