“Magandang araw. Kumusta na?” “Mabuti po. Kayo po?” Isalin at bigkasin man sa kahit anong wika, ang pakikipagpalitan ng malugod na pagbati at magalang na sagot ay tunay na kaaya-aya. Higit sa pagiging kasiya-siyang ugali, dulot nito ay ngiti, galak at saya.
Dahilan ito kung bakit lagi kong hangad na maglakad-lakad sa kahabaan ng mga kalsadang pumapalibot sa aming tinitirhang apartment. Bawat kakilala, kaibigan at istrangherong masasalubong ay maaari kong batiin ng magandang araw, bagkus ay kumustahin.
Lubhang nakagagaan ng loob ang mabatid na ang lahat ay maayos ay. Ibayong saya rin ang maaaring madama. Ang gaan ng loob at kasiyahan ay nakatutulong na palakasin ang aking isipan at katawan, mabisang paraan upang bigyan ng saysay at kulay ang buhay.
*****
Just a week ago, a brisk near midday stroll along the sidewalk of a busy street in Scarborough led me to a lady comfortably perched on a senior’s walker.
Her spot, behind a fence on a bright green lawn fronting her home, was strategic. It gave her the space to indulge in alone time, as she felt the cool refreshing breeze softly brushing her skin that basked under sunrays piercing through the relaxing shade of a nearby maple tree.
Completely a stranger she was to me. So I was surprised when she greeted me with a queenly wave as I neared her. The wave momentarily took her attention away from the sort-of-sub sandwich snack (or was it brunch?) she was then enjoying. Reasonably, her face mask rested on her lap.
“Good morning. How are you?” I asked through the face mask that hid my smile. “I’m good. Thank you.” she replied. As I passed by, she added: “Have a good day.” I responded “Thank you, Ma’am. You too.” and walked on.
Shortly later, I heard a woman’s voice calling. Halting and turning, I saw the lady striding away from her walker and coming towards me. Hoping and praying that she was alright, I hastily went towards her. At a safe social distance, she handed me a plastic bag. “Candies,” she said, “candies for you.”
I froze, at a loss for words. I received the plastic bag and nodded, an intuitive act of gratitude for a “Thank You” I might have been unable to vocally express. After literally seeing her to her seat, I moved on.
Overwhelmed to this day, I am still trying to discern why she thought of and made the effort of sharing with me all four of her Toffee candies of varied fruit flavours. She could have savoured the treats after her sandwich break.
Whatever, I am convinced that the rhyme and reason of people, places and events would eventually be unfolded, known and understood, albeit at a pace and time of its own.
At the moment, I felt glad to be richer by four candies from a lady who bequeathed me with her sweet blessings of generosity, goodwill, respect and love.
Believe it or not, a wave and a couple of greetings started it all.
*****
My neighbour loves tidings of comfort and joy. No matter the season, she takes every chance to spend some time outdoors, listening attentively to Mother Nature.
One time I tried to replicate her. The late afternoon sun’s embrace and the cool summer breeze were relaxing. The sound of chirping birds and rustling maple leaves were just fine.
Things went awry when a seagull taught me that Nature is what it is. Clearly, I heard and saw the splat that fell flat on my burger.
“Good morning. How are you?” my neighbour greeted me the next day.
“I’m great? Thank you?” Say, how else should I reply?
*****
A cloudy summery June morning was just the ideal time to vent out our disdain of the deadly invisible virus. My brother Jing and I engaged on a candid exchange about the nasty pandemic, even as we struggled to catch each other’s words that were muffled by face masks.
We sauntered along a pedestrian pavement leading to a park-playground near our place, oblivious to what was happening around us. Going north, we were on the pavement’s right side, bordered by a grass strip and a gutter that helped keep people away and safe from vehicles.
Sidewalks in Toronto’s minor streets are about 1.5 metres wide, just enough for two persons to safely occupy in either one-way or two-way traffic. To maintain the pandemic-suggested two-metre social distancing protocol was quite a task on the pavement.
Be that as it may, the conversation between Jing and me was cut short when we noticed a young lovely couple with a baby on a stroller coming our way. Their friendly eyes and “hidden” amiable smiles met and matched ours.
Almost at the same time, we all signalled the direction of our paths. The couple pointed to the right. So did Jing and me. Just as the husband was about to steer the stroller towards the grass, Jing gestured that they could go straight through the more even, firmer and wheel-convenient cement pavement. Jing and I stepped on the grass strip. There was no oncoming vehicle, so Jing and I were good. Everyone was physically apart, farther than prescribed.
Hand and body language said it all. There was no need for words. No talk, no mistakes. In the era of Covid-19, it could only mean “no talk, no droplet.”
When we passed each other, we all either shook or nodded our heads, laughing in comic and playful disbelief. We greeted each other too with the cordial “Have a great day.” Then I thought I heard a baby’s cute giggle.
Practicing sidewalk courtesy could be one of the easy simple things people could do to keep each other safe and healthy; and stay away from the contemptible virus and beat it.
Do not guess. It only takes a split second for the contagious Coronavirus to hop from carrier to receiver. It takes a lifetime for carrier and receiver to know what they are up to and against.
*****
Come what may, Summer will be over on September 22. Officially that is, on a calendar.
But before Fall enters the seasonal scene, the doors of Ontario schools will reopen anytime soon.
September 8 is set, but flexibility and some delays are considered for classroom convergence. The Toronto District School Board said it is ready to open on September 15.
Underlying concerns on physical learning space are being addressed, but a multitude of questions are still being asked. The most notable one is: “Will schoolchildren and students be safe from infection and never become virus carriers themselves?”
It really is a serious and sensitive matter to carry out effective and efficient health and safety measures ensuring that a viral infection never occurs in any campus, in any yellow bus, or in any home. Pathetically, we all live in times when we are all struggling to know the unknown, uncertain of our own certainties.
Exploring the unknown, health-wise, is risky but an adventure in itself. Kids will always be kids and will behave as kids. As often quipped, life is like a box of chocolates; you’ll never know what you’ll get.
“Good morning. How are you?” These heartfelt greetings will always resound inside school grounds, halls and rooms. However, the tone may be subdued. Returning to new books, desks and schoolwork and, most of all, teachers, school friends and classmates may no longer be what it always was.
While cautious optimism seems to be the mode in a pandemic era, schoolchildren and students may just have to have fun living with and creatively surviving some of the lingering and quite annoying restrictions; similar to what they did since March break.
Admit it or not, the decision to reopen schools and the choice to send children back to classrooms will either make or break Humpty Dumpty.
*****
Remote and virtual learning is fast becoming a well-received educational option.
Kuwento ni Mare, pinagsabihan daw niya ang kanyang husband na mag-donate na lang ng cash sa mga school support groups, at huwag na huwag ido-donate ang “remote.”
*****
Couple’s pandemic stay-at-home conversation:
Man: You know that too much information gained between a couch and a screen is not remote learning.
Woman: Yes, it is virtual learning.
*****
A good friend’s tale: He asked his ten-year old granddaughter how prepared she was for BTS. She knew that BTS meant Back To School, although she would have highly preferred the pop group all day.
The granddaughter replied in the affirmative. But she made it loudly known that anything online and virtual was debatable. She wanted her campus experience live, in the company of friends, classmates and teachers. “I really missed them,” she added with a puppy face.
Grandpa simply said “Of course. I love you.”
He went to his room and sat on the bed. Soon after, his granddaughter peeked through the door and said: “Know what, Lolo? I miss you more. I love you more.”
*****
Until the next issue of Balita, how about WAWAW: Wash hands. Avoid closed spaces. Watch the distance. Avoid crowds. Wear a mask. Post Script: Stay safe. Keep healthy. Tomorrow is a new day. #####