Bob

One strong case against Bob in the movie
The Incredibles, was saving a man who did not want to be saved.

Years ago,  a friend   maligned his  mother in law for helping him get his family intact. My former co-ed embarrassed us for ‘saving’ her from her drug addict lover. My classmate in elementary school blamed me for getting in between and stopping his fight with another classmate.

Many times in our lives, we dreamed of being a hero or somebody useful. But sometimes along the way, we get burnt for trying to interfere in the natural process of someone's' survival. The truth is some people don't need our help and doing so may cause more damage than fix.

And so, in this case, we could help by not helping; care by not doing anything;  listen by ignoring; love by letting someone be where they want to be...

Please, re-share

photo: © Alieh S . 2007 | posted by john b. bejo

Joy

When the world left me, she was there. She walked, cried, fought and stayed with me. Today it’s her birthday. 

When Joy and I got married, we had nothing: only our love and our dreams. We did not have a grand wedding. Even some of our sponsors were not properly dressed. We had the most frugal reception spending a cost of a low end smartphone now.

We stopped wearing our wedding rings because they're bent already. We bought them from the cheapest place in Ongpin. Maybe we could have bought a better pair if we had more money, but it's immaterial:  we both believe that wedding rings are not worn on fingers, but in our hearts...

When I was a kid, I loathed those men who hurt and abused their girlfriends and wives, I told my self, when my time comes, I will respect her and will not hurt her… and I have never forgotten that…

We may still have a long journey to take, but we believe we have woven happy strings of memories in the past that would always link us together even if all bridges would fall…

Please, re-share

posted by john b. bejo

Bruno

Bruno approached me to ask for a dime. I had nothing. I looked at him and pulled out my packed lunch and gave it to him. At first he hesitated and looked at me for several seconds to see if I was really serious to give my only food to him. He took the food and said, "Sir, what I can do for you. Thank you. Thank you. I will give my life to you. Tell me what to do." 

I walked away and avoided that way again. I did not want to see him again, because I did not want him to repay me of anything. I'll get embarrassed if he would.

Maybe I am stupid. Money would always make me blush. I worked for free for significant countless points of my life, and survived from the donations of unknown people. Later on when I had a family, my wife would get irritated for I gave my service for free: we have children to feed.

Perhaps, in a world where money is the only commodity, I am a moron and misplaced.  I have no money. Like Bruno, I want to pay back and pay forward. I still dream of a day when I can give my service for free for the people who have nothing to give except their wounded hands, for at the end what will count is the number of people we shared our lives with…

For all the people who made my life possible. Grazie mille !

Please, re-share

photo:by Mountain Brook| posted by john b. bejo

Giorgio

Almost every host here in Italy would brag about their best wine. Some have hundreds of different bottles in their cellar with different brands and howling price tags. But only one has served the best wine so far: Giorgio.

He lived in a less than 30 sq. meter country style apartment filled with what are essential and hundreds of VHS and cassette tapes of classical and modern concerts. He's an old friend of my brother Tootsie. He received us with warmth, sincerity and humble enthusiasm. And then served us his best salami, nuts, fresh cheese and wine.

For the first time, a total stranger felt at home. I sat comfortably on his old wooden chair and we started talking about his little collection and travels. I drank his wine with total faith that he won't translate it into an "utang na loob" or debt of gratitude. And he gave us a gallon of his best Extra Virgine Olive Oil before we left.

I believe that the best wine  is not in brands or price tags or in the elegant glasses. It is in the one who serves it. And therefore, anybody could serve the best wine, only if served with sincerity, genuine friendship and total self giving without a threat of ‘utang ng loob’… Cin cin :)

Please, re-share

photo: Tootsie and Giorgio | posted by john b. bejo