May 9, 2013
I hope to see him again. I have something to say.
He is an old friend, though I never learned his name.
He was stepping into his green door when I asked for a photo. “Of me???” he said. “Me?”
Suddenly he was foisting the freesias on me. “No! no!” I yelped, backing up, hands high.
But it’s impossible to refuse a Sicilian Random Act of Kindness.
I will tell him how he filled my heart that morning.
***
Such beautiful flowers!! <3
A beautiful moment Jann. Gestures, small acts of kindness…. the stuff of life in Italy I am finding. I love this post! xx
Yes, the small stuff in Italy is so lovely. And it turns out the small stuff is really HUGE!
you are gone and i am alone again. i smell the flowers you left in the blue crystal vase…
they bring you back to me again
© Dennis Berry Benevento 1997
Oh, how nice that is, Dennis.
Sicilians are amazing. Last summer as were were leaving Agrigento, we pulled into a small shopping area. I went to ask for directions as the GPS was not doing so well. While I got directions, a young girl pulled out and backed into my rental. Ouch. There was a rapid fire dialog which pushed my Italian to the limit. The damage was not serious, but would require some attention to the bumper. The young woman’s aunt was in the car, and wanted us to follow her to where he husband was. Not sure of what was happening, but being comfortable nothing bad was going to happen we followed here for about 2 km and found her husband had a body shop. He jumped on it and compounded the bumper making it better than new! Happy ending for all.
Greg, I just love stories like yours. Thanks for sharing it. There’s a surprise around every corner in Sicily, and I’m glad yours ended so well!
With that simple gesture, he told so much about himself. He is a man who makes
quick decisions, he acts on his emotions and he is more interested in making
others happy than himself. I wonder if he was taking the sweet bouquet into
his own home or if he was taking them to other lady; a very likeable Sicilian.
Vicki, I love your analysis. I was wondering the same thing about what he had initially intended to do with the flowers, and I sure hoped he wasn’t planning to give them to another woman (wife)? Who knows.
Lovely, in so many ways. The gesture, the sentiment, the colours are all heart-warming.Love that last photo–a perfect way to keep the bouquet.
🙂 Jelly jars come in handy! (I drink out of them, too.) Thank you, Lynne.
Jann, yet another captivating Sicilian character! How wonderful it must be to meet men like him who want to bequeath you with flowers! I yearn to live in such a place where a smile and a request for a photograph will result in such rewards! Love that last shot! Love it! 🙂
The medieval code of chivalry is still alive in Sicily! Love to you Bella, and I hope your knee is improving??
I’m sure you’ll meet again at just the right moment. Such a little thing yet so beautifully done, a true gentleman x
I’ll be looking for him, Lisa! How’s the renovation going?????? I can’t believe you still have time to read blogs! xxxxxxxx baci
How lovely to be given such pretty flowers. It would have made my day too.
It makes me want to pass it forward.
One act of kindness shared between two strangers. How lovely. I hope you two meet again. Gorgeous flowers! Brava, Jann.
It’s what I love about Sicily, Anitre. So much unexpected kindness.
Ditto to what Inner Chick said!
Baci to you, Diane. Are you getting ready for your trip????
And his heart may have been filled in equal measure by your interest in him.
🙂 Hope so, Sam.
Oh, a man bearing flowers … is there anything better? Wonderful vignette, Jann. PS. Freesias are the best!!
Nope, nothing better than a man with flowers! Fellas, are you listening?
Ahhhh, my heart just filled up.
Thank you for a most lovely story.
It made me smile all over.
Xxxxxx KISsssss
So glad, Kim. Many kisses back to Minnesota. xxxxxxxxx
Lovely…I dream of going back to Sicily. Love your blog.
Jo, you’re always so sweet. Grazie, and I hope you get back on the island soon!
Once I admired this family that had a wonderful ‘pollo alla braca’ place. So, I brought in some cherries from a tree where I was staying. I, literally, couldn’t return for quite awhile because they wouldn’t let me pay for my chicken.
🙂 Rich, this is so funny. You became their “friend” and once you’re a friend in Sicily, you can’t pay anymore!
A gentleman is rather than does…! I encountered this sentence in a book 30 years ago and thought for a while to understand the meaning. This kind man is a real gentleman but who cannot be seeing a woman like you , dear Jann…..?
Cemal, you’re always the gentleman, too! Showering women with compliments. Of course we love that!!! xxxxxxxxx
Ooooh..I absolutely love the scent of freesias! I hope you see him again soon.
Yes, a honey-ish smell!
Sweet
🙂
How sweet!! After being there in April, I recognize that love for beauty Sicilians hold dear and a certain eagerness to share it with others. One of my favorite places in memory, and I can’t wait to go back. Thanks for your amazing blog!
Hi Mel, thanks so much for your insightful comment re beauty & sharing. Hope you get back soon, and thanks for your kind comment, too!
Jann, those flowers are gorgeous, and what a friendly, generous move giving them to you! How lucky you are to have gotten TWO lovely gifts in one morning — his photo and the freesias!!
You’re right, Debbie. TWO gifts.