This week we celebrated the birthday of my brother, James, and I am once again reminded of a how in our quest for knowledge, for the latest gadget, for the biggest house on the block, or for the most exotic vacation, we have lost an appreciation for the simple things in life that make our lives the most meaningful.
Our celebration with James was very simple. James is a simple person. Many would look at him and think that because of his lack of mental acuity or linguistic skills he is missing something, but the simple truth is more times than not we are the ones that are missing out.
We took cupcakes to Hetlinger, the sheltered workshop where he works, for James to share with all the kids there. I call them kids although I think the correct term these days is “consumers’. I call them kids because that’s how they appear to me with their simple childlike faith and joyful appreciation of the most elementary of things.
In addition to the cupcakes, we took his favorite things, two helium filled balloons to the party. He smiled and blushed and it was worth all the money in the world to see him so happy. He was the big honcho for a few minutes, grinning, while everyone sang happy birthday to him, and commenting over and over again on the surprise. Continue reading “It’s the Simple Things”