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Skupne besede, Skupni Svetovi

Ko sem izvedel, da je bil moj let zadržan 4 ure,

Slišal sem napoved:
Če kdo v bližini vrat 4-A razume kaj arabsko,
Prosim, takoj pridite do vrat.

No, danes se človek ustavi. Vrata 4-A so bila moja lastna vrata. Šel sem tja.
Starejša ženska v popolni tradicionalni palestinski obleki,
Tako kot ga je nosila moja babica, je bil zmečkan na tleh in je glasno jokal.
Pomoč, je rekla oseba letalske službe. Pogovori se z njo. Kaj je ona
Težava? povedali smo ji, da bo let imel štiri ure zamude in ona
Naredil to.

Objel sem jo z roko in ji nemirno govoril.
Shu dow-a, shu- biduck habibti, stani stani schway, min fadlick,
Sho bit se-wee?

Tisto minuto, ko je slišala katerokoli besedo, ki jo je poznala – pa naj bo še tako slabo uporabljena –
Nehala je jokati.

Mislila je, da je naš let v celoti odpovedan.
Morala je biti v El Pasu zaradi večjega zdravljenja
Naslednji dan. Rekel sem ne, ne, v redu sva, boš prišel, samo pozno,

Kdo pride po tebe? Pokličimo ga in mu povejmo.
Poklicali smo njenega sina in z njim sem govoril v angleščini.
Rekel sem mu, da bom ostal z njegovo mamo, dokler ne pridemo na letalo in
Vozil bi poleg nje — jugozahod.

Pogovarjala se je z njim. Potem smo poklicali njene druge sinove samo za šalo.

Potem sva poklicala očeta in on in ona sta nekaj časa govorila v arabščini in
Seveda sta imela deset skupnih prijateljev.

Potem sem samo za vraga pomislil, zakaj ne bi poklical kakšnega Palestinca
Pesniki, ki jih poznam in naj poklepetajo z njo. Vse to je trajalo približno 2 uri.

Takrat se je veliko smejala. Pripoveduje o svojem življenju. Odgovarjanje
Vprašanja.

Potegnila je vrečo domačih mamool piškotov – malo v prahu
Sladkorne drobtine, polnjene z dateljni in orehi – iz njene vrečke –
In jih ponujal vsem ženskam pri vratih.

Na moje presenečenje, niti ena ženska ni zavrnila enega. Bilo je kot a
Zakrament. Popotnik iz Argentine, popotnik iz Kalifornije,
Ljubka ženska iz Lareda – vsi smo bili prekriti z istim
Sladkor v prahu. In nasmejana. Ni boljših piškotov.

In potem je letalska družba izdala brezplačne pijače iz ogromnih hladilnikov -
Brezalkoholno – in dve deklici za naš let, ena Afričanka
Američan, en mehiški Američan – tekal je naokoli in nam vsem stregel jabolčni sok
In limonada in bili so tudi posuti s sladkorjem v prahu.

In opazil sem svojega novega najboljšega prijatelja - zdaj sva se držala za roke -
Iz torbe je imela lončnico, nekaj zdravilnega,

Z zelenimi kosmatimi listi. Tako stara podeželska potovalna tradicija. Vedno
Nosite rastlino. Vedno ostanite nekje zakoreninjeni.

In pogledal sem okrog tistih vrat poznih in utrujenih in pomislil,
To je svet, v katerem želim živeti. Skupni svet.

Niti ene osebe v teh vratih - ko je jok zmede prenehal
— se je zdel zaskrbljen zaradi katere koli druge osebe.

Vzeli so piškote. Želel sem objeti tudi vse tiste druge ženske.
To se še vedno lahko zgodi kjerkoli.

Ni vse izgubljeno.

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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

24 PAST RESPONSES

User avatar
Aruna Jehangir Apr 4, 2025
We are the same people with good hearts filled with kindness let us not loose track of that and spread joy around give a helping hand this makes the world go round
User avatar
Deepak Feb 5, 2015

Thank You . Beautiful .

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PLHProject Nov 24, 2014

This story confirms that there's still good things happening in this world.

User avatar
Carol Ann Jun 20, 2014

If we enjoy each other openly, one person at a time, how could we not love and live in peace and harmony.

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Pamela Murray-Jones Jul 23, 2013

Loved this story. Have just recently performed my first croning ceremony (and was initially cynical) but it was a wonderful celebration of the unity of all women. Now another indication that there need be no barriers: religion, age, culture or language, if we keep an open mind and heart

User avatar
Debi, Anchorage Alaska Jul 8, 2013

I went to Israel two years ago and had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a 65 year old Palestinian women for an hour. While in Jerusalem we stayed at a hotel in the Muslim district. I looked at all the women and felt so connected to their joys, sorrows, and experiences as women of different faiths. This trip also made me to live in a "shared world."

User avatar
Grandma May 29, 2013

Outstanding! This is what my 4 yr old latino grandchild would say. He is learning English from watching the English funnies. God bless all of those people that passed the story on. Like you say, there are lots of wonderful people arround.

User avatar
mtkerrig May 27, 2013

Thank you for this moving story of the true nature of people. I especially enjoyed the part about carrying a plant to stay rooted. My wife came to the US from Colombia carrying a plant.

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Tariqul May 22, 2013

I luv it

User avatar
af May 8, 2013

OMGGGG

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Kristin Pedemonti May 6, 2013

thank you for sharing. True: There are NO Strangers in this world. Once we take a moment, however small & connect to another in whatever way we are able, we see the Human Being in front of us. Here's to kindness & helping each other. <3 and HUGS from my heart to all of yours.

User avatar
Dan Brook May 5, 2013

I just got another little taste of utopia.

Daydreaming in Kyoto

https://www.smashwords.com/...

User avatar
Sethi May 4, 2013

Awesome . Thank you for sharing . Kindness is a universal language .

User avatar
Tracy May 4, 2013

Oh gosh, what a beautiful story! I can't wait to send it around to my family and friends. Thanks for making me smile and for putting tears in my eyes . :)

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Ferlonda May 4, 2013

So beautiful. Thank you!

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Henry May 3, 2013

The world community is ONE. If everyone relates to one another with compassion and respect, there would be very few, if any, barriers of any sort. This story is like a pebble tossed onto the surface of a body of water. Its ripples will touch others wherever they may be.

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Eric Weinberg May 3, 2013

may every being without exception be covered with sweetness

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Dr. Kanhaiyalal Sharma May 3, 2013

For act of kindness language is no bar every body understands it. Acts of kindness must be spread as wide as possible.

User avatar
Arun Solochin May 3, 2013

Beautiful. A small little moment turns into eternity.
Thank You for sharing this.

User avatar
J P May 3, 2013

Soft shimmering light connecting strangers-us. Heart touching,heart warming , heart melting.
Thanks for sharing.

J P

User avatar
Ana May 3, 2013

Thank you for the heart warming story. It makes me wonder how would the world be if there were no language barriers, how many misunderstandings could be avoid, how much love could be shared? The beauty of this story is to imagine how many ripples it caused and the impact it had in each of those who were part of this beautiful chain of acts kindness.

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MK May 3, 2013

@ Momastery on FB

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Wendy Omuro May 3, 2013

This made my heart melt . . . and I now have an undeniable craving for a mamool cookie. :o) Naomi, thank you for sharing your touching experience, and for reminding us that this kind of shared world is not far from reach.

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Jen May 3, 2013

This is exactly where I want to live as well-in a shared world. So unbelievably beautiful and hopeful.