By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 31, 2020 | While big events continue to dominate the news cycle in our daily lives, all too often we overlook insignificant happenings that can cheer us, or make us stop and think. The phrase that comes to mind is that we all do not stop “to smell the roses.” We came across two entirely different examples this week that caused us pause.
First, an unexpected note came from Ed Orr of Peachtree Corners, who retired from the banking and software business a couple of years ago. We most recently saw Ed on a riding lawnmower this week cutting the grass at Christ Episcopal Church in Norcross. He’s part of a squad called “The Lawn Rangers” that keeps the church grounds beautified, even though during the COVID-19 crisis there are no church services. It’s gratifying to see such a neat appearance.
Ed wrote of an incident that is most insightful. Here are his thoughts.
“In light of all the news of racial disharmony, I had a most reassuring experience on Monday. To set the stage, it was a warm summer day in Georgia with our typical July humidity.
Orr
“I was in the process of selling my mom’s old automobile that had not been driven appreciably in two years. So I drove it to the gas station around the corner to top off tires. But when there, the battery failed, it wouldn’t take a jump, and it left me blocking access to their air pump.
“Since I was obviously inconveniencing folks, I got out and began to push it to another spot. This was obviously a lot for a 69 year-old to push. Within 90 seconds, three guys of different ethnic backgrounds (Asian, Indian, and African) appeared and helped me. We pushed it to a shaded spot and I waited for AAA to come to assist me.
“While I’m waiting and sitting in the car and on my phone on this warm day in Georgia, an attractive young woman of Hispanic ancestry arrives at the passenger door holding her phone. Displayed was a translation app, showing the phrase: “May we take you some place” and pointed to her husband and their minivan.
“I was and am quite touched by this.
“Maybe we’re all fairly sensitive to the folderol in the news these days. We’re all trying to do our individual parts to improve matters. For sure I know that we live in a good place. It’s not perfect. It never has been. It’s a great melting pot, filled with good people. There are some bad apples around, for sure. But I’m glad I’m where I am, as these diverse people who offered help to me show.”
Thanks, Ed, for your insight.
Over the last few days, we’ve seen a deer family, a doe and her fawn, both in our home neighborhood, and in the woods at Technology Park. The fawn looks like it was born this spring, and is about half as tall as its mother.
Then on Wednesday afternoon, we saw the body of the mother on the sidewalk at Holcomb Bridge Road and Atlantic Boulevard, apparently killed by a car. Looking out our bathroom window on Thursday morning, there was the fawn, resting on the pine straw near our backyard shed, no longer with its mother by her side. That sighting of the fawn by itself caused us to pause, realizing how precious life is, showing how quickly matters can change, and how lonely that young deer must be.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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