Little things

There is a woman in my building who is disabled. I'm not sure what is wrong with her. She is wheelchair bound and has an attendant taking care of her. I know she has diabetes but I don't know what else. She is alert and can sit up in her chair and move her arms, but she doesn't speak. All she can do is say "Ma ma ma ma. Ma ma ma ma."

I usually see her in the evening, when I'm coming in after work. Her attendant wheels her out to the front of the building and they sit outside. I speak to them whenever I see them - small talk - lovely weather (well, not recently) and the like.

I didn't realize that this meant anything to my neighbor until one afternoon I came home early and, while walking up the walk, heard something behind me. I turned and my neighbor was there, with a different attendant, ma-ma-ma-ing up a storm. I walked back and greeted her and the attendant told me that when my neighbor saw me, she got excited and started pointing to me.

I can't describe how this touched me. I had been making small talk because it was the polite thing to do - I wasn't raised to just walk by and ignore someone. But, at that moment, I realized that my being polite obviously meant something more to my neighbor. Now, when I see her, I make a point to speak directly to her, since she obviously understands what I'm saying, even if she can't respond. I take her hand and look into her eyes and I recognize her as a person.

I would like to think I was raised to recognize everyone as a person, but it appears some lessons need reinforcement. I'm grateful to my neighbor for providing that reinforcement.