Christmas Stories

[nadinbrzezinski]

Ok folks let me start by saying... I am Jewish... but I worked this shift for ten years to send a medic home for the evening. My partner was an agnostic, so at times we WERE IT, while other crews attended midnight mass for a city of three million.

So what follows is one of those Christmas stories where you actually get to see good will towards your fellow man.

Every year, when the winter came, we stoked up on cheap blankets to leave behind at the homes of the really poor, and one fine December 24th, I was dispatched to a call for Asthma in an area of Tijuana where people didn't have much. When we got on scene we found mom had an attack and after talking it over with medical control, we treated in the field. Well, the kids, a five and seven year old, crafted gifts for their parents made out of newspaper, the girl made a doll, from cutouts and the boy made a small container using a shoe box and newspaper for decorations.

Now, we not only left blankets as we always did, but we realized they had nothing to eat, and it was a slow day. So my partner and I drove down to Costco and bought them food, not only for the night, but also for a couple weeks. When we drove back to the scene with this food, they were very grateful. Mom would not let us go until we had a cup of coffee with them. Our only excuse would have been if we got another call. We didn't. So we enjoyed a cup of coffee with people who were dirt poor, were very grateful that somebody came, and were not expecting food from us but wanted to share this with us, and the day. That folks was the true spirit of the holiday, and we saw it in the family. They might have been one step away from starvation, but they were very close knit. Think about it tonight as you seat down down with friends and family, and how many folks tonight are only focused on the I-PODs, and other shinny baubles... under the damn tree, instead of the meaning of humanity that should be part of this time of the year, or hope for a brighter future... the true origin of Festivus.

Now it is your turn...

And for those of you who celebrate it... Merry Christmas.

[PDJane]

1. A letter to the editor from the Toronto Star.....

And thank you, because I wanted an excuse to share it!

A universal language

Dec 24, 2007 04:30 AM
I am a 17-year-old Muslim girl and I do not celebrate Christmas. But one experience I had during the holiday season left me breathless and instilled in me a lesson I will never forget.
Last December, I was asked to help out at a Christmas party as part of my community service hours for school. The party was thrown by a local church and it involved a dinner as well as various activity booths, where volunteers assisted individuals with tasks ranging from making ornaments to jewelry for loved ones.
I came across an elderly lady and her daughter, both Italian, and the senior immediately came toward me and kissed me on both cheeks, saying something in a language I didn't understand. I didn't know who she was or why she had kissed me. What I did know was that I had experienced something very unique and heartfelt. Later I found out that the woman had said, in Italian, "It doesn't matter where we come from or that I don't know you; we are all related in some way."
This really hit home for me, and it showed me that people did exist in this world who cared about those of different races and nationalities, and considered us all united.
This one act of kindness and generosity has stayed with me and is a constant lesson. It has taught me to show love and kindness to everyone, and to always be courteous and treat each other with respect.
________________________________________
Talat Sadiq, Maple, Ont.

http://www.thestar.com/article/288280

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. That is a beautiful letter and thanks for sharing

there are many stories like this... and I have a couple others from those at times, endless and tragic shifts.

They all have different things. One of them was the miracle of birth... I delivered a young lad on December 24th, as you may guess he was named Christopher. Every year after that the family always brought something to share with us to the station, and we watched young Christopher grow from a tiny little thing all bloody and slippery, and with quite a wail, to a rambunctious young boy.

;-)

I'll keep the tragedies to myself, and be assured, they are there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Kick

[Raejeanowl]

4. Thanks, Nad

There's a priceless nugget in what was intended for this holiday, a gift that belongs to us all.

K & R

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. Great to read such inspiring and topical posts, Nad and Jane. Thanks.