Dec 29 2008
For What Do You Keep Your Eyes Peeled?
The Good | Self Sacrifice Leads to Quality of Life?
My stepgrandmother just visited us recently over the Christmas holiday, and while she’s a reasonably health lady (I put special emphasis on lady, as that is how she sees herself, and it’s one of her charms), she has back issues.
One day, while riding alongside the road leading up to a bridge, on a cobbled extension to the shoulder, my stepfather was providing her a tour of the many sights of our riverfront. The big lure was to spot the head of a passing dolphin - in this area it is normally the manatee but that’d be difficult just with the distance and angle.
The ride was reasonably rough, especially as we were going so slow, and especially in a Jeep Wrangler. At one point, nearing the end, she was visibly uncomfortable.
“Do you need me to stop? I can get back on the road easily.”
“No, that’s fine, I’m looking still. Besides, you won’t be on this enbankment much longer.”
“You’re really sure? Nobody’s coming, I can just turn right on, and I don’t want you crumbling into bits -”
She then said, motionless, head tilted out the right window, eyes permanently affixed in a hopeful gaze, “No, like I said, I’m fine. I would like to see a dolphin.”
That’s a little telling, if you ask me. Perhaps there’s a little wisdom in there too.
It makes me like people. We’re programmed for our own survival, but designed to experience that to the fullest.
