I was standing in the kitchen, making my second cup of tea for the day, rocking away to Jose’s Down The Line and there was a knock at the door.
I opened it and there was a lady standing there, I have never seen her before. In broken English she said she had a rhododendron potted plant that she had on her balcony, she indicated so I followed her finger and looked past the bridge on what I call ‘the mainland’, and there was a young man holding a huge pot plant. She said it was growing too big for her balcony and was wondering if I would like it for my garden. I was flabbergasted. I am never good at receiving gifts, I get very overwhelmed when people give me things (no doubt some of you have already noticed with my replies to your incredible MHW submissions). And here was this complete stranger, offering me a gorgeous plant. I managed to say “yes! wow! thank you!” and we put the pot down on the shoreline. I must have said thank you about 50 times in less that 30 seconds, it was all a bit of a shock. And then I headed back in, almost in tears. How thoughtful, how lovely. I didn’t ask her name, or where she lived, or anything. But maybe we will see more of each other in the street now, or I do hope she comes to visit her plant again soon.
I have never lived in an international city that behaves like a small village, this is what is so unique about Amsterdam.
So here I sit, on day 3 of my deadline countdown. There are props everywhere that need to be returned. The cookie jar has been empty for weeks. There are crumbs on tabletops. Papers and notes all over the pallet bed. The piano is covered in dust. Yet while I have not been outside to see the light for days, tucked up inside this floating abode writing away the hours, your wonderful submissions keep flowing in, a photographer emails me the beautiful jpegs of a recent shoot, a lady comes to the door with a plant for my garden, and Jose sings the perfect soundtrack for our conversations about the importance of saying sorry.
Synchronicity abounds.
Excellent! J’adore les rhododendrons! Ils me rappellent la Bretagne et l’Irlande… C’est ma voisine préférée.
June 13th, 2008 | #
Hope the rest of your day continues in this wonderful way. Reading this has made my morning.
June 13th, 2008 | #
Kind strangers make me smile. Happy day to you Pia.
June 13th, 2008 | #
this is what I call a good start ! Which color was the rhododendron ? Love them too.
June 13th, 2008 | #
sounds wonderful and well-deserved. you give (a lot) what you get (something back).
June 13th, 2008 | #
What a lovely thing to happen!
June 13th, 2008 | #
love this. and love hearing about your morning in amsterdam while drinking my coffee in new york. nice way to start the day.
June 13th, 2008 | #
your comment jennifer, has made me think about your morning, drinking coffee in NYC. so cool to think we are all attached via these tiny wires buried under the sea.
yes it was alice! cindy-k, its a novel idea isn’t it?
sofia, there is one flower on it at the moment and it is a lovely antique white (as opposed to cream. hey, i’m a stylist!)
kirsty, me too. thank you and happy day to you too.
jeska, thank you – you also made my morning with your comment, and then sending me the above photo of your inspiration board with its little wandering heart. its divine.
french boy – pour l’instant, elle est ma voisine préférée aussi! much better than the old lady upstairs in the old Paris flat don’t you say?
xx
June 13th, 2008 | #
such a warm story, thank you for sharing 🙂
I’m still waiting for the perfect moment to photograph for my submission… I just hope it comes in time.
June 13th, 2008 | #
wonderful story! i’m constantly amazed at how generous people are.
June 13th, 2008 | #
What a lovely random act of kindness story! Thanks for making me smile today with that 🙂
June 13th, 2008 | #
🙂 you made me smile, antique white, beautiful!
June 13th, 2008 | #
You are living such an ‘authentic’ life! A-M xx
June 14th, 2008 | #
Pia, What a delightful touching story… those are the moments we live for and can never plan for … the beauty that is in peoples hearts…you recognized it and will always have a wonderful memory and a reminder… everyday you wander in your garden…
…acts of kindness and thoughtfulness stay with us and cheer us in times when we need it… if we remember to remember!
Your blog is mesmerizing and I love your 7:12 pm still life just below.. so endearing! thank you , gwen
June 14th, 2008 | #
im really enjoying these posts! merci for sharing all the pictures 🙂 and your stories too!
June 16th, 2008 | #
oh, pia… i LOVE this story! such a beautiful post (& your way of telling it, so lovely!) there is just so much beauty in the world sometimes! : )
June 26th, 2008 | #