I do not often write here anymore. It seems I have so many other conduits for my writing these days that this one is seldom used. Today it seems the appropriate venue.
Today would have been Dan's 31st Birthday. Having returned home from a lovely celebration with our friends I took a look back at his Xanga page again. His last entry was a week before his 28th Birthday. He spoke of how he loved his job because it was a place where he could often experience people who were not angry or tense. He marveled at animals' ability to instill this relative calm and peacefulness. He wanted so much to see that in the world. It hurt him so to feel he did not see if often enough, as it hurts us all; but it was an acute and frequent hurt for him.
I identify with his pleasure in his work at the Humane Society (see the connection?). Funnily enough Dan's previous entry is about coffee. I love my current job because when you are serving people their coffee they tend to be peaceful and grateful people, gracious even. Many at times even when a customer comes in impatient or disgruntled I can spread a little peace by being kind and gracious to them. It is nice to be there to provide that humble service. I, like Dan did, feel that there are greater things for me to do in the world.
I wonder...perhaps we are mistaken, or even arrogant, to think this.
