WHICH CONNECTS US
There he was. Carrying his saxophone case in his left hand, backpack weighing down on both shoulders, and his phone in his right hand. Head down, checking the messages.
I had made it back from a work errand in time to have him get into the car, though he was already at the entrance to the apartments. I tapped the car horn quickly and as light as possible to let him know to get into the car. A bus was behind me, getting closer by the second.
He was responding to text messages from his sister. The one who is fifteen and a half months older than him. She had asked if he could meet her halfway to bring her some food to eat before tonight’s dance performance as she was hungry. Tonight was the first of three nights she would be performing. It brought me much joy to see them collaborating on such a basic need.
Food is the one thing which connects us all. Some countries being better than others at establishing a deeper connection by having families sit around the table for most meals to eat, talk, and enjoy each other’s company.
The several times I have visited family in Croatia, I have witnessed firsthand how food brings people together. From the custom of offering you napolitanke cookies and coffee when you arrive for a visit to somebody’s house, to the evening meals gathered around the large table overlooking the Adriatic Sea, enjoying the freshly caught and grilled fish with an assortment of other prepared dishes. I recall dinners lasting for hours, whereas here in the States we are often rushing through meals in a matter of minutes.
As my son and I got out of the car, I realised he would not have time to meet his sister as he had his online off-campus PE class starting in about fifteen minutes. I let him know that I would go to meet her to take the food he put together.
He read off the list of her wishes and started packaging them. He made sure to completely fill up the small snack bag with Seena’s favourite napolitanke. The hazelnut ones. Then he grabbed a Clif bar, some pretzel wheels, and Fritos corn chips. I added a mandarin.
In the meantime, I heated up the ‘pillow’ bread for the avocado, cheddar, and prosciutto sandwich which I placed in the large compartment of the plastic container, along with some carrots. The other two compartments contained strawberries and raspberries. I hoped it would be enough. Then I added one of the peach spray roses I bought for our table today, along with a note wishing her a good dance.
My son texted his sister to let her know I was walking over to the school. As I approached the cafeteria doors, I let her know I had arrived. I saw her happy face as she ran outside in her leggings, tank top, and socks. She was very grateful and thankful as she took the bag of food from me.
As I stood there to wish her a good dance tonight, I was the one who was grateful for seeing a brother and sister work together for something as simple as food. I was also delighted at the unexpected hug she gave me before I left.
Sometimes we think things need to be expensive or complicated in order to make a difference to someone. What we often tend to overlook is that the basic things we take for granted are the ones which matter most. Which bring us together. Which binds our souls and our minds.
