1 January 2015

On this New Year’s Day, “I wish you enough”!

Original short story by Bob Perks (I got to read this, thanks to a great guy and a personal friend – Larry Mason)

—
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, on this day, again, I wish you enough!



Posted January 1, 2015 by Rajib Roy in category "Musings

22 COMMENTS :

  3. By Sibapriya Dasgupta on

    Happy new year Rajib, Sharmila and Niki-Tasha! This post reminds me of an earlier similar post (about an year ago) ! But it’s wonderful , no doubt about it!

    Reply ↓
  6. By Ruchi Lodh on

    Thanks for sharing this beautiful story … Happy New Year to Sharmila, Natasha, Nikita, and you !!! I wish you enough LIGHT to share your love for life with everyone … I wish you enough COMPASSION to reach out to more people around the world and share their beautiful stories with your friends … I wish you enough COURAGE to say Goodbye with a smile for a goodbye is a stepping stone to another ‘ Namaste ‘ – a greeting from one heart to another 🙂

    Reply ↓
  10. By Vicky Ruffin Cupit on

    Okay RR… writing this through tears…. just talked to my sister in New England who just returned from visiting our brother in Virginia and although they speak often on the phone this is the first time she has seen him since 1988…. and just talked to my daughter – in – law who is driving their 18 wheeler west of here into the ice and snow and she sent me a picture of ice forming on the outside of her truck as she drives and hauls food for our nation to eat….and like the story above I hate to hang up and say goodbye…. although odds are that I will leave first… you just never know when or how…. hope this new year is a great one for you and your family and I look forward to a nice cup of coffee next time you are in Texas and a lot of catch up stories…. speaking of which… I am anxious to seen what adventures you will write about in 2015.

    Reply ↓
  17. By Dibyendu Mukherjee on

    As usual Rajib, superbly written. Amazing that your posts always do touch where it is meant to! Ever thought of publishing these? its time you do so. Happy New Year to you, Sharmila, Nikky and Tasha

    Reply ↓

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