Baada ya kujifunza ndege yangu ilizuiliwa kwa masaa 4,
Nilisikia tangazo:
Ikiwa mtu yeyote aliye karibu na mlango wa 4-A anaelewa Kiarabu chochote,
Tafadhali njoo getini mara moja.
Naam-mtu anasimama siku hizi. Lango 4-A lilikuwa lango langu mwenyewe. Nilikwenda huko.
Mwanamke mzee aliyevalia mavazi ya kitamaduni ya Wapalestina,
Kama vile bibi yangu alivyovaa, alikuwa amejikunja chini, akilia kwa sauti kubwa.
Msaada, alisema mtu wa huduma ya ndege. Zungumza naye. Yeye ni nini
Tatizo? tulimwambia safari ya ndege itachelewa kwa saa nne na yeye
Alifanya hivi.
Niliweka mkono wangu karibu naye na kuongea naye kwa utulivu.
Shu dow-a, shu- biduck habibti, stani stani schway, min fadlick,
Je!
Dakika aliposikia maneno yoyote aliyoyajua-hata kama yalitumiwa vibaya-
Aliacha kulia.
Alifikiri safari yetu ya ndege ilikuwa imeghairiwa kabisa.
Alihitaji kuwa El Paso kwa matibabu makubwa
Siku inayofuata. Nilisema hapana, hapana, tuko sawa, utafika, umechelewa tu,
Nani anakuchukua? Hebu mpigie tumwambie.
Tulimwita mwanawe na nilizungumza naye kwa Kiingereza.
Nikamwambia nitakaa na mama yake mpaka tupande ndege na
Ningepanda karibu naye—Kusini-magharibi.
Alizungumza naye. Kisha tukawaita wanawe wengine kwa ajili ya kujifurahisha tu.
Kisha tukamwita baba yangu na yeye na yeye alizungumza kwa muda kwa Kiarabu na
Iligundua kuwa walikuwa na marafiki kumi walioshiriki.
Kisha niliwaza kwa ujinga tu kwa nini nisimite Mpalestina fulani
Washairi ninaowajua na waache wazungumze naye. Haya yote yalichukua kama masaa 2.
Wakati huo alikuwa akicheka sana. Akisimulia kuhusu maisha yake. Kujibu
Maswali.
Alikuwa amevuta gunia la vidakuzi vya kujitengenezea nyumbani—vilivyotiwa unga kidogo
Vifurushi vya sukari vilivyojaa tende na karanga—kutoka kwenye begi lake—
Naye alikuwa akiwatolea wanawake wote langoni.
Kwa mshangao wangu, hakuna mwanamke hata mmoja aliyekataa. Ilikuwa kama a
Sakramenti. Msafiri kutoka Argentina, msafiri kutoka California,
Mwanamke mrembo kutoka Laredo—sote tulifunikwa sawa
Poda ya sukari. Na kutabasamu. Hakuna vidakuzi bora zaidi.
Na kisha shirika la ndege lilianzisha vinywaji vya bure kutoka kwa baridi kubwa-
Wasio na kileo—na wasichana wawili wadogo kwa ndege yetu, Mwafrika mmoja
Mmarekani, Mmarekani mmoja wa Mexico—alikimbia huku na huko akituhudumia sote juisi ya tufaha
Na limau na zilifunikwa na sukari ya unga pia.
Na nikamwona rafiki yangu mpya—kwa sasa tulikuwa tumeshikana mikono—
Alikuwa na mmea wa sufuria ukitoka kwenye begi lake, kitu cha dawa,
Na majani ya kijani ya manyoya. Tamaduni kama hiyo ya zamani ya kusafiri katika nchi. Daima
Kubeba mmea. Daima kukaa mizizi mahali fulani.
Na nikatazama kuzunguka lango lile la marehemu na waliochoka na kufikiria,
Huu ndio ulimwengu ninaotaka kuishi. Ulimwengu wa pamoja.
Hakuna hata mtu mmoja katika lango hili—mara kilio cha mkanganyiko kilipokoma
- imeonekana kuwa na wasiwasi juu ya mtu mwingine yeyote.
Walichukua vidakuzi. Nilitaka kuwakumbatia wale wanawake wengine wote pia.
Hii bado inaweza kutokea popote.
Sio kila kitu kimepotea.
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24 PAST RESPONSES
Thank You . Beautiful .
This story confirms that there's still good things happening in this world.
If we enjoy each other openly, one person at a time, how could we not love and live in peace and harmony.
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
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."
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.
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.
I luv it
OMGGGG
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.
I just got another little taste of utopia.
Daydreaming in Kyoto
https://www.smashwords.com/...
Awesome . Thank you for sharing . Kindness is a universal language .
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 . :)
So beautiful. Thank you!
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.
may every being without exception be covered with sweetness
For act of kindness language is no bar every body understands it. Acts of kindness must be spread as wide as possible.
Beautiful. A small little moment turns into eternity.
Thank You for sharing this.
Soft shimmering light connecting strangers-us. Heart touching,heart warming , heart melting.
Thanks for sharing.
J P
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.
@ Momastery on FB
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.
This is exactly where I want to live as well-in a shared world. So unbelievably beautiful and hopeful.