Have you ever lost something you really liked?

MSC archived stories - October 8, 2022

Karol, soon to be turning 11 lives in Barranquilla, Colombia. Above all other children her letters especially make me feel how caring and amazing little girl she is. When Karol writes she always opens up her heart to tell me to "receive a lovely greeting from me. I thank you for such beautiful letter that you sent."

 

Last night, it was my time to write her again. I wanted to get Karol to share something about her life, so first tried sharing something about mine to help foster connection and open the conversation.

 

Dear Karol, I hope this letter finds you well. I know you're really excited now to attend grade 5 classes at school and meet with your teachers and classmates again. Do you more like online classes or to attend school in the afternoon? Since reopening of the CPXi Community Center, did you participate any activities or have gatherings so far taken place with all the necessary safety measures? When I was around your age studying in Sri Lanka, I had a wristwatch my father gave me, which helped to keep up the time during my travelling by school bus. Do you or your classmates wear a wristwatch to school? Later in my adult life working here in Scotland, I had a wristwatch, which I wore to work every day for 10 years. But just before the pandemic one evening of the winter days (when the sun set at 4pm), I was returning from work walking 20 minutes to get to my bus back home. As I was about to onboard the bus, I turned to my left hand to read the time but the watch was gone. I was really upset as thinking it must have been accidently dropped off my hand on my way to the bus station. On that moment I decided to walk back the same route looking for the watch along both sides of my pathway but nowhere to be found it until arrived at the office. I was trying to recall my last memory of seeing it on that day inside the office building but sadly it wasn't there where I thought would be. I lost hopes of finding my watch on that cold and dark night with much disappointment as I passed the security officer at the front to leave the building telling him what has happened. He suddenly asked me to wait for a moment and went to speak to another officer. As he was coming back asked me to describe the watch –the make and colour. I was beyond belief when he handed over my watch! I was told that the cleaners found it and passed onto the security team. Can you imagine, by then I was feeling really exhausted yet relieved with gratitude that the watch has somehow found its rightful owner. Have you ever lost something you really liked? What did you do? Love, Chelaka