One of Those Moments...

Yesterday I experienced one of those moments when you are thankful for such simple things like having legs and arms, for being able to use them and enjoying their ability to function - such simple things which make you forget A-L-L that you consider serious problems in your daily routine.

I was on my way to Hagen. I was all drowned in my own thoughts not paying much attention to the people in the immediate vicinity of me. I was sitting still, lost in reading, when suddenly the woman beside me started to make some strange - almost gymnastics - moves. But even this couldn't get me out of my occupation. Only a moment later she asked me when our train was due to arrive in Dortmund. I explained to her that this train didn't go to Dortmund at all and that she would have to catch other train. She just sighed, then gave me one of the most friendly and genuine smiles I have ever experienced in my life and I got lost again in my book.

Not for long...

The gymnastics moves went on. They were even more impressive than before. With my peripheral vision I could see a foot just a few centimeters from my face and somewhere down there - a head, almost reaching the floor. I turned my head and looked at the woman. She had no arms. A conductor was passing to check the passenger cards and the woman was taking out hers. She was taking it out of her bag which was lying down on the floor with the help of her feet! At that moment I thought of all the "fancy women" who sometimes cannot even take their identity card out of their purse because their manicure is too long and oh-my-God-it-could-get-damaged!.

Reverence!

The woman showed her passenger card to the conductor and started to pack her stuff to get off at the next station. She packed her bag alone - with the help of her feet! - hung it on her neck and got to drag her trunk to the train door (oh right, did I mention that she had a trunk either?).

She would never read this but I can't help saying it:
You made my day! Thank you!

God bless you!