I wish you enough
“I wish you enough!”©
By Bob Perks
I never really thought that I’d spend as much time in airports as I do. I don’t know why. I always wanted to be famous and that would mean lots of travel. But I’m not famous, yet I do see more than my share of airports.
I love them and I hate them. I love them because of the people I get to watch. But they are also the same reason why I hate airports. It all comes down to “hello” and “goodbye.”I must have mentioned this a few times while writing my stories for you.
I have great difficulties with saying goodbye. Even as I write this I am experiencing that pounding sensation in my heart. If I am watching such a scene in a movie I am affected so much that I need to sit up and take a few deep breaths. So when faced with a challenge in my life I have been known to go to our local airport and watch people say goodbye. I figure nothing that is happening to me at the time could be as bad as having to say goodbye.
Watching people cling to each other, crying, and holding each other in that last embrace makes me appreciate what I have even more. Seeing them finally pull apart, extending their arms until the tips of their fingers are the last to let go, is an image that stays forefront in my mind throughout the day.
On one of my recent business trips, when I arrived at the counter to check in, the woman said, “How are you today?” I replied, “I am missing my wife already and I haven’t even said goodbye.”
She then looked at my ticket and began to ask, “How long will you…Oh, my God. You will only be gone three days!” We all laughed. My problem was I still had to say goodbye.
But I learn from goodbye moments, too.
Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, “I love you. I wish you enough.” She in turn said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy.”
They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?”
“Yes, I have,” I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me.
So I knew what this man experiencing.
“Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?” I asked.
“I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral,” he said.
“When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, “I wish you enough.” May I ask what that means?”
He began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.”When we said ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them,” he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he
were reciting it from memory.
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Goodbye.”
He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends, I wish you enough!
Thank you.
Super……may I share it Rajib?
This is beyond brilliant – hear warming, moving and wise.
Uncle,excellent writing. When our “VO-dadu”(maternal grand father) was detected with cancer & doctors said he was a guest of few months; but he was unaware of it.But he suspected something & asked my mom repeatedly about it as she is a straight spoken person. Though at that time we were very small,we could understand our mom’s pain & difficulty in concealing the fact from him.
If you are not famous, your factbook posts will make you famous soon enough.
Rajib…..I’m really in search of words to describe my feelings after reading this! From the the somewhat awkward boy even to the extent of self centeredness as all class toppers are perceived to be( you had only a set of close friends/followers) in school , you have blossomed into a person who is constantly breaking barriers, seeking new human frontiers, I really dunno who or what transformed you ?!
Fame is just a fallout of success which in turn begets wealth! Money can buy fame for anybody and everybody and it is short lasting for most! Your everlasting quest for human knowledge maybe because of your latent desire to stay alive in all our memory! Rajib , go ahead ! I wish you enough!
Wonderful!
Love!
Rajib, great post. Travel well, my friend.
This brought tears to my eyes thinking of saying goodbye to my Dad last year. Thanks for taking the time to share this story.
Great post Rajib da… It comes at a very appropriate time in my life…
This is so touching! And your wife is a very lucky woman…
So beautifully composed, Rajib. It pricked the nucleus of my heart. Keep going…
But Huffington posted the SAME story! You should definitely make them give you credit.
Look forward to reading your blogs. Enjoyed the last FIL MIL one with about running in the rain. Have read a different version of this story
but it is very touching and am happy I got to wish my mom enough before she passed. Waiting for your next blog.
touchy <3
Well spoken Rajib
Rajib, these stories make me sad, is this meeting and parting an inescapable human condition? Make attachments and live life or stay detached and live a wooden life? Brave of you to explore them in the way that only you can.
Rajib,
Thank you for sharing such a remarkable story. Often life happens so quickly we forget the true meaning and gifts we have in our everyday moments. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet you and learn from you.
I wish you and your enough.
Excellent, simply excellent.