Today I had a conversation with Gisella, the 17 year old daughter of our office cleaning lady.
July 25th, 2013, 10am
It was 18.3°C with overcast. The breeze was gentle.
She joins her mother once a week when they come to clean our office and is a ball of energy, smiles and curiosity. Her mother’s English isn’t great so Gisella helps translate at times. I engaged her in a conversation and asked if she enjoyed helping her mother out with the intent of finding out what her real passion is, what her dreams are for herself, what she wants to do after high school. I expected an answer that would perhaps include a dream college, or a career in the arts or in dance, or something with languages, but her answer was simply a smile and an expressed hope that if all would go well, maybe one day she could clean an office as nice as ours too, just like her mother.
Her answer reminded me of the Up documentary series, in which the film makers follow a set of people from across social classes and interview them every seven years. I highly recommend watching it sometime. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Series
Other moments in New York
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Espressoing
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A few more days
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Goodbye
A final Hi meeting
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meditation, Creativity
The local neighborhood bar has a quiet time between six and nine. It is a place that specializes in coffee, beer and seasonal menus. There is just enough of each for a satisfying snack and effective buzz. After the time when the laptop lids close and before the social gatherings start -- there is a sort of twilight*. Often this time is a fugitive ground rife with creative inspiration and meditative work -- of the kind that results in personal reward.*twilight may refer to civil, nautical or astronomical variety depending on your social or terrestrial condition
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Web, development
A man positions his mouse on the edge of his browser window. He clicks, holds and drags the viewport first left then right. The content of a video game promo micro site responds and adapts to the available space. To the man, this is more delightful than the game itself.
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subway, music
A man laboriously moves his piano down three levels onto the subway platform. Classic vocals and strided chords -- he played so well I swore he was blind. Oblivious to the heat on that August stage, he was most in touch with his audience -- whom he elevated with his music.
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Feminism
A woman should do exactly as she pleases no matter what a man may think.
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Travel
As the Dalai Lama once said, "It is a time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room."
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stars, Grandma, Love
"No one understands me," she said. Her grandmother was silent for a minute. It seemed she was searching for an answer in the star speckled sky. "But no one understands anyone in this world, darling. We are all unique. It is what gives us a sense of wonder."
in New York, United States