Contemplating Compassion

Over the course of two weeks, there have been 8 additions to the homestead at Daniel's. One of which, a sure stud, Daniel delivered himself! Markedly different from the other lambs, this little guy's legs are abnormally large for his body. He is very agile and momma likes to be very protective of him. I guess that's how mother's are, especially when they know they have a future stud on their hands! Daniel says he sucks the tip of his nose. So cute! Now, of course, the moonchild has even more need to stay home and not have to venture up the narrow dirt road to Venus' house. That little caniver...

Animal activity is no less apparent here. If it isn't the local raccoon gang waking me up at 4:30-6:00 in the morning, making their pilgrimage from the north end of the house to the east, then it's the ballsy bobcat, using my roof as a playground, leaping from the ground, to the trees, and back on to the roof again.

It occured to me today, though, that although the animals' timing is annoying, their intentions are not maligned. Humans, you'd think, with their "consciousness," would be able to rise above their personal microcosms to the collective, and therefore bring forethought and compassion to their actions. I know, the optomist in me is forever put to the test.

After a couple days of feeling under the weather due to some medical difficulties lately, I embarked to the lab to get some tests. After waiting two and a half hours for the doctor's office to call me back with regard to the lab scrip, with no response, I set out anyway. Of course, it was noon by then and I had been fasting for the bloodwork.

Later, I came to a four way stop on a sleepy afternoon in St. Helena. As a truck passed through the intersection, I went to make my right hand turn. A lady from the opposite lane was already half way into her left hand turn. I smiled in concession, but was too far ahead of her to offer her the lane. Her unkind and aggravated face made her mood quite clear. I thought how awful for her to have her face in such a grimace. So, regardless of who was in the right or wrong, I mouthed an "I'm sorry." As I then missed my immediate right hand turn into the hardware store's parking lot, I put my right hand blinker on to turn around. As I slowed, I realized there was room to make a u-turn. So, I changed the blinker to the left one, and proceeded to begin in the other direction. Unbeknownst to me, the lady with the grimace had gone to illegally pass me on the left. Imagine her face after I went to turn left! This time I looked at her with the thoughts that were in my head, on my face, wondering why her driving had to be so presumptious and rash.

She took the time to stop, in the lane of oncoming traffic nonetheless, and tell me that I almost caused two accidents. Feeling both perplexed at her audaciousness and repelled by her obviously frequent grimace, I only wanted her out of my presence. All I said to her was, "I apoligized to you already. What more would you like from me?" As she sped off in her BMW, obviously unaware of her part to play in the near misses, I was saddened by what I see frequently in peoples' unkindness and self -absorbed behavior.

I think of it often when I see young people fail to heed to an elderly person, or offer them help. I think of it when I see young men sit while a pregnant lady stands. I think of it as I approach someone in a grocery store, and rather than connect with one another and smile, the person looks down and acts as if we are not two human beings crossing paths. All day, everyday, there are many examples.

So, I later fled back up the hill, eager to get back to the minor annoyances of the local raccoon gang, or the rogue bobcat, perhaps the infrequent but occasional homily opossom. At least their irreverence for my human sleep schedule is unintentional.

I see there's a trout following us now! I like the free-spirited trout. We don't see him as often as we'd like. Maybe we should go fishing soon.

Every day, I make it a point to be compassionate. It is part of my daily mantra. I try to understand that we are all on a path, and that it is important to be respectful and even helpful of that path, whether a stranger or not. I try to smile, in hope that a moment of positivity can come of a split second. Every day I am put to the test.

Now I think I'll head down to my "other" home in the hills, where the moonchild may have a consoling glass of wine and an open ear, not to mention a beautiful presence. He's good like that.