When I started opening the boxes, there was a rush of emotion. About 95% of the clothes were new: tags still on, stored in the original shopping bag. We're talking hundreds and hundreds of purchases, most of which cost above $100, according to the tags. What sort of woman shops this way? I had to know.
My dad began telling me a little bit about her, how she was incredibly kind and happy. She was loved very much, and died entirely too soon. She had become a friend of his while she was preparing to close her estate during the last stage of her illness. She died only a few weeks ago.
In quiet moments of thinking about her while going through the clothes, it seemed very sad that such a wonderful person only touched my dad's life on the fringe; and by extension, touched mine even less. That she was a good person is true, but she was also very human, as evidenced by the entire storage unit of unworn clothes. I became floored by the immensity of how many people are in the world, just waiting to know us. Every one that we encounter, for whatever reason and for whatever depth, is someone complex, gorgeous, and utterly unique.
It was a beautiful evening.
the thought of "the immensity of how many people are in the world, just waiting to know us." has floored me too. it is kind of humbling and yet so hard to wrap your mind around it....very exciting in way. now i am thinking, how much do i need to open myself up to let them know me?
Posted by: robert | on August 11, 2007 08:35 AM