Thursday, June 21, 2007

a somber one

Someone that I care deeply about might be ill.

I won't write about the situation, for their privacy reasons. But I will say that at times like these, little favors mean the world, and little refusals are also magnified.

I found out the bad news earlier this week. Dan sent me emails and SMS's throughout the day, to check how I was doing. Not a big deal, just a few minutes here and there. Rina had a break-in at her house that morning, but when she heard the news, she sent me a long email expressing her sympathy. Let me know if there is anything I can do, they say.

During the darkest minutes on Tuesday night, when I despaired over whether there was any course of action, I remembered these acts of friendship. They carried me through.

I've learned previously the power of small favors during crises, but it has been a while since I felt it so strongly. In my life, the act of kindness that I am perhaps most grateful for happened three years ago. After a desperate night in the emergency room with one of my relatives, the health insurance representative decided to reject the case so that their company would not have to pay. The ER doctor stayed 45 minutes past his shift to advocate on our behalf. He pulled me aside and advised me how to persuade the insurance company, and our fallback alternatives should that fail.

I would walk through fire for that doctor. Later we brought him a large gift basket of chocolates to the ER, and wrote a glowing letter to put into his file, but that is nothing compared to the favor he did for us.

There are so many I am grateful to -- friends and coworkers and doctors -- who are kind and empathic and go out of their way. Thank you to Alipé who looked up a list of doctors in the region for me. I will remember it.

It works the other way too. Perhaps you're another relative, a distant one. You don't want to deal with the problem because it's so much trouble, and so frightening. So you minimize the situation. You say it's not so bad, not a big deal. You make it clear that you're not going to help. You change the subject. You make a joke and try to laugh it off.

Perhaps I chalk the first time up to denial, and the second time to discomfort, but after that there are no more excuses.

I understand. It is human to protect yourself by not getting involved. I still appreciate all the errands and help you gave me throughout my life, and I will treat you respectfully. But know that I will never completely trust you again, because nothing will wash away this memory, that you couldn't be counted on when it mattered the very most.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hej!

I don't even remember how I found your blog or started reading it. . .Just wanted to write that I totally relate to your comments about the importance of little favors.

Hope you don't mind a few supportive "kramar" (hugs) from Sweden and that it is just a false alarm and the person involved turns-out to be ok.

{{{KRAM}}}

Erin Winslow
Ulricehamn, Sweden

Anonymous said...

Best wishes (fingers crossed).

Anonymous said...

Yes - A dramatic event magnifies a person’s true color.

Your friends and family circle act differently in good times and bad times.

When you are on top of the world, many people become your friends because of that. But life is an up and down journey. Know who your true friends are.

Best wishes...

ThomasHan said...

Niniane,

don't know you personally, but best wishes to you! hang in there...

Anonymous said...

Best wishes !!

RC, The Netherlands

Anonymous said...

Niniane,

Sending more positive energy through the wire and hoping for the best to the person close to you.

Anonymous said...

Niniane, we've never met, but my context-switching from reading blogs to compose an email (or for anything else, for that matter) is rare. I did it for you. Hope your mate feels better soon!

Anonymous said...

I am the type of person to "be there". Being able to help, to support in time of need is a privilege. It helps put the world into perspective, it reminds me that I am human, and that the sunrise is amazing, and that we are all dependent on each other.

As you let people help you in difficult times, know that you are enriching the relationship you have with them, and that you are enriching their life by helping them experience the full range of the human existence. And if there's anything that might persist after death, it'll be that.

Anonymous said...

I have been reading your blog for a while, very entertaining. :-)

It's very sad to find out about the true nature of some people, especially when you need them the most, but at least you better now.

Sven