A Midsummer Night's Dream

It's the halfway point of the summer school holidays. Right about now, back to school ads start creeping in over the airwaves, and the panic that the fall is only four weeks away starts looming. Not me, not this year. We are four days away from a much anticipated three-week trip to Scotland, and I've just come off the best weekend of the summer since I disappeared to New York City at the end of June.

Yesterday, we hosted a BBQ that was at once a reunion of old friends and the making of new ones. There were adults and children we had not seen in over a year, and the little ones quickly won over the resident cats with their caresses and attention. The dog was enchanted by his very own Scottish 'whisperer,' and another Scotsman managed to inadvertently feed him real meat as he passed by; for the lucky pooch, it was a banner day near the food table.

 It was one of those gatherings where a small group came together and clicked socially right from the start; the time passed all too quickly because of the banter and chatter between these newly-made friends, as well as the usual catching-up and short bursts of storytelling. We were surrounded by laughter, cold drinks, and generous plates of food, as is always the case with good company, but there were also moments of seriousness when difficulties and struggles were shared.

Into the late evening, as I went over some of the events and conversations of the day, it hit me how hard the last few months have been in and around parts of this circle. There have been dark times for a few of them and in some cases, those situations are still unfolding and not yet resolved. It made me thankful that we were surrounded by kindness yesterday, and that we were able to offer encouragement and understanding. There was a gentle ambience among the people sitting around the table, and a show of support for those facing harsh realities. It reaffirmed my belief that we must try to be kind whenever possible, and that no effort to help is ever wasted even if it appears to be futile. I was touched by a private conversation I had with one of our guests, and her immediate empathy moved me partly because it came after a year's separation. It reminded me to try to be more like her: open-hearted, calm, and full of compassion. She is at once gracious and graceful in a way I have never managed, and it would likely surprise her to know her words and manner had such a profound effect on me. It made me sit back later and think about something I had read many months ago:

A few walls came down yesterday, and I am sure the efforts to reach out made a difference to those who were hurting. It certainly did to me, and that was unexpected. Maybe it's not such a bad thing to keep knocking every now and then, if only to remind ourselves and others that friendship is valuable, that no gesture of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted, and that it's important to let people know you care about them.