Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. 'Nothing in particular,' she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.
How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter's sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me.
-Helen Keller, Three Days to See (1933)
NB: Helen Keller was deaf-blind.
At the homeless reception centre I volunteer at, they give out free sandwiches. Today, as I watched one of our regular clients eat the middle part of the sandwich and stuff the crust the back into the back for disposal, I thought... this would be a good anectdote for my blog.
2 comments:
My mother always told me that the crusts would make my hair curly. So I always ate my crusts. Clearly, she lied to me.
Maybe this man was thinking along the same lines. Or maybe he just doesn't like crust.
I've never understood the aversion towards it, honestly...it's just as delicious (unless you're eating white bread that has the flavor and consistency of Kleenex) and tastes just about the same as any other part of the bread.
No, Tony definitely doesn't like the crust, and having curly African American hair, I don't think your mom's tactics would have done much for him.
I guess the issue I was trying to raise (without sharing my views on it) was that here's this homeless guy, coming to get food someone payed for (directly or indirectly) and donated, but throwing nearly half of it away. On the other hand, if someone gives you something, you should be able to do whatever you want with it, right? It becomes yours.
PS: I totally agree with your last paragraph on crust, but how do you know what Kleenex feels like in your mouth?
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