and good will to all
There was excitement on the busride to work this morning.
Tammy (or Tami, or Tammi) is a mentally handicapped woman, about 50 years old, who rides the bus to Goodwill Industries every morning for class. For however long, she's been going there, working on her GED. For the past week or two there's been a look in her eyes, a glow, and it's been growing brigter everyday. Today, her jubilancy overtook her.
Listening in on her conversations with her classmate John (listening in being involuntary as loud as she speaks), I knew that she was winding down with her work there. In the past couple weeks, it seems, she has received a couple of different certificates of one sort or another, this past Monday having brought one on the bus that she had framed in some cheap black thing she presumably bought at some thrift store. She couldn't help herself to show it off. She was happy.
Although she has always been the type to talk to anyone, asking lots of questions of those (un)fortunate to sit anywhere near her, today there was no avoiding it. This Friday she is graduating and she wants the whole world to know about. She talked the busdriver's ear off, reminded John of their big day, retold me and my workmate Tom of her accomplishment at least a couple of times, and tried to let everyone else who would lend an ear know of her joy.
As we got closer to Goodwill, which is too stops past mine, the excitement only seemed to grow. What was just an almost psychotic glow on her face turned to a jitteriness, culminating in excited screams of "yippee!" and "woohoo!" (yes, those exact words) five minutes before she was to get off.
As she told everyone, she told me her plans. After graduating on Friday, she's going to get a job working in the kitchen of Ferguson Hospital (or, rather, as a food prepper not cooking as she seemed to stress). She's excited about it. Really excited about it. I gotta say, as excited as she was, I got excited for her. I think just about everyone on that bus that didn't automatically write her off as "just some retard" did. It's hard not to catch the excitement when it's that contagious.
It's a good way to start the day to see someone that excited about where their life is going. So good to see someone fid such a sense of accomplishment, especially when they're disadantaged like she is.
With that I want to wish Tammy the best of luck in all of her endeavors, it is truly uplifting to meet people like her on our travels through life. Though I may never see her again, she will be remembered in some small way as I too work to acheive and grow, hoping that I can find as much self-satisfaction and pride in whatever I may work towards. God speed, Tammy -- it was nice to cross your path.
With that I'm going add that a plug for Goodwill again. It's not just a place for inexpesive, second-hand clothes. It has a mission to help the disadvantaged become more productive in ther lives. The money they raise helps people like Tammy acheive ther goals and find the pride that I witnessed this morning. Shop there or at least donate your old clothes, it does so much for so many.
Tammy (or Tami, or Tammi) is a mentally handicapped woman, about 50 years old, who rides the bus to Goodwill Industries every morning for class. For however long, she's been going there, working on her GED. For the past week or two there's been a look in her eyes, a glow, and it's been growing brigter everyday. Today, her jubilancy overtook her.
Listening in on her conversations with her classmate John (listening in being involuntary as loud as she speaks), I knew that she was winding down with her work there. In the past couple weeks, it seems, she has received a couple of different certificates of one sort or another, this past Monday having brought one on the bus that she had framed in some cheap black thing she presumably bought at some thrift store. She couldn't help herself to show it off. She was happy.
Although she has always been the type to talk to anyone, asking lots of questions of those (un)fortunate to sit anywhere near her, today there was no avoiding it. This Friday she is graduating and she wants the whole world to know about. She talked the busdriver's ear off, reminded John of their big day, retold me and my workmate Tom of her accomplishment at least a couple of times, and tried to let everyone else who would lend an ear know of her joy.
As we got closer to Goodwill, which is too stops past mine, the excitement only seemed to grow. What was just an almost psychotic glow on her face turned to a jitteriness, culminating in excited screams of "yippee!" and "woohoo!" (yes, those exact words) five minutes before she was to get off.
As she told everyone, she told me her plans. After graduating on Friday, she's going to get a job working in the kitchen of Ferguson Hospital (or, rather, as a food prepper not cooking as she seemed to stress). She's excited about it. Really excited about it. I gotta say, as excited as she was, I got excited for her. I think just about everyone on that bus that didn't automatically write her off as "just some retard" did. It's hard not to catch the excitement when it's that contagious.
It's a good way to start the day to see someone that excited about where their life is going. So good to see someone fid such a sense of accomplishment, especially when they're disadantaged like she is.
With that I want to wish Tammy the best of luck in all of her endeavors, it is truly uplifting to meet people like her on our travels through life. Though I may never see her again, she will be remembered in some small way as I too work to acheive and grow, hoping that I can find as much self-satisfaction and pride in whatever I may work towards. God speed, Tammy -- it was nice to cross your path.
With that I'm going add that a plug for Goodwill again. It's not just a place for inexpesive, second-hand clothes. It has a mission to help the disadvantaged become more productive in ther lives. The money they raise helps people like Tammy acheive ther goals and find the pride that I witnessed this morning. Shop there or at least donate your old clothes, it does so much for so many.
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