Article voiceover
This morning, before we ended the call, my friend said "Take care," a common phrase, yes, and delivered by habit but let's take a moment to recognize its uncommon grace, its call for all of us to take care of ourselves, of course, but also to take care of others, and, today, let it be a call to take care, to notice, the smaller beauties of the things that surround us. I feel silly but I'm going to celebrate the shredded wheat squares that I ate for breakfast. Ah, the crisp and slight sweetness of the cereal are also the two aspects of personality that I love most in people—so here is my honor song for that blend of human satire and kindness—the gentle mockery and gentle praise—the edge of tender and tender of edge—that leave me laughing and grateful for loving and being loved.
This reminds me of a conversation between 2 former neighbors of mine, husbands in a mixed-culture marriage. Nigel, quite British, and Earl, a very colorful Hawaiian. They were having a heated dispute with another neighbor of theirs and Nigel ended the conversation with "take care." Earl was taken aback that Nigel would end this confrontational encounter with such a gentle wish of safety and tenderness, but to Nigel, the phrase meant "you'd better watch your ass!" A threat, from his cultural perspective, but wholly missed by his intended audience, I'm sure.
dear sherman,
beautiful piece!
thank you for taking care and sharing the care you took!
take care!
myq