Time flies
at such a speed that it seems the speed does a funny trick on our memory; at
least it does on mine. It seems like recent that I have met this young man and
his growing family with three brilliant and look alike boys aging from five to
five months old. Last year of this time we had a great dinner together at a
local authentic Taiwanese style restaurant to welcome them to the community.
This year at the same time we had another getting together dinner at the same diner.
Except this time it’s a farewell dinner; the whole family is ready to relocate
to the other state. Eric, father of three, is going to start his career at a
promising finance company.
A person
might not be impressed at Eric’s average height and looks. Once a conversation
begins one’s perception of and impression on Eric would be changed. It’s his
expression and matter of a fact manner that would cut a groove in one’s mind
about him. His confidence permeates through words he chose, through the looks
he has had speaking or explaining something, and into the conversations he had
with people. When he spoke there was no trace of doubt or hesitation on the
topics or subjects at the interactions. This is what impressed me and had me
believe that the family’s future including the kids’ is very bright and full of
hope and promises.
At work I
met plenty of people from different backgrounds, some from local and some as
far as Australia .
Their needs and demands differed just like the manners and behaviors of those patrons’.
I was amazed at what those people could teach me even when the situations were
an unpleasant one. I remember this phone call made by a gentleman. Out of blue
he started to talk about a family event that upset him to this extreme that he
couldn’t stop talking to a librarian, a total stranger. His tone told me he was
really emotional and had a need to vent out the negative feelings toward a
person important to him. What should I do? I heard him out and listened to him
and his concerns, worries, and uncertainty. It’s an interesting experience.
Another
case dated back last summer. It’s a group of seniors, tourists from Australia . They
came in to ask to access the internet to do some wire transaction; they stroke
a deal and had to pay for the purchase. It’s a huge amount: $75,000. Once they
were certain that the public computer is secure, they completed the access and
wired the money from their home country. In and out, this group of seniors
visited the library more than twice. While waiting for the process to complete,
I got into conversation with them. Knowing they would spend months in the US I
gave them my name, email addresses, and phone numbers telling them not to
hesitate to call me in case they needed help. In return they gave me their
names. We are all travelers and who knows when we will need a kind hand to give
us assistance and help? Their trust and bravery to tour this country
self-guided told me they are good people.
Eric’s
successful story tells me this country is indeed a dreamland for whoever has a
dream to fulfill as long as one is willing to try and do his best. Eric
finished all his graduate school classes this past June and passed all the CPA
required exams by the end of September. He applied for a job by sending just
one company and he got hired! His case proves what I have believed: one has to
try and do his best then Heavenly help will arrive at the right time.
Next
Wednesday Eric and his family will move to a new place they would call home and
begin Eric’s blooming and booming career. Eric gave me his new home address,
email, and phone number telling me if I travel to that state don’t forget to
stop by and pay him and the family a visit. I sure will.
People came
in and out the library. They might leave or never come back again. Still, some
of the people and what and how they dealt with me do cut a deep groove in my
mind and register in my memory. Those people and the beautiful memories are
fuels and engines charge me and drive me at the workplace I like so much.
We, staff
of the public library, are the connections between the books and the people we
serve. It’s a holy profession.
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