"information please"

[WISDOM]

"When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood.  I remember well, the polished, old case fastened to the wall and shiny receiver on the side of the box.  I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother used to talk to it.  Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person and her name was "Information>Please," and there was nothing she did not know.

"Information Please" could supply anybody's number and the correct time.  My first personal experience with this genie-in-the-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor.  Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer.  The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be any reason in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.  I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.  Then I saw the telephone!  

Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing.  Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.  "Information Please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.  A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"Information" "I hurt my finger", I wailed into the phone.  The tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.  "Isn't your mother home?" the voice asked.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.  "Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied.  "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."  "Can you open your icebox?" she asked.  I said I could.  "Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.  After that, I called "Information Please" for everything.  I asked her for help with my geography and she told me where Philadelphia was.  She helped me with my math.  She told me my pet chipmunk, that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petty, our pet canary died.  I called "Information Please" and told her the sad story.  She listened, then said the usual things grown ups say to soothe a child.  But I was UN-consoled.  I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, "Paul, remember that there are other worlds to sing in."  Somehow I felt better.  Another day I was on the telephone.  "Information Please."  "Information," said the now familiar voice.  "How do you spell fix?"  I asked.  All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest.  When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston.  I missed my friend very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall.  As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.  Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then.  I appreciated now how patient, understanding and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle.  I had about half-an-hour or so between planes.  I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now.  Then, without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information, please."  Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.  "Information."  I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause.  Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."  I laughed, "So it's really YOU, " I said.  "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time."  "I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me.  I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.  "Please do," she said.  "Just ask for Sally."  Three months later I was back in Seattle.  A different voice answered, "Information."  I asked for Sally.  "Are you a friend?"  she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said.  "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick.  She died five weeks ago."  

Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute.  Did you say your name was Paul?"  "Yes."  "Well, Sally left a message for you.  She wrote it down in case you called.  Let me read it to you."

The note said, "Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in.  He'll KNOW what I mean."  I thanked her and hung up.  I do KNOW what Sally meant.  I smiled.....I will see her again.

**NEVER underestimate the impression YOU may make on others.  Whose life have YOU touched today?

[Guest Cumberland20]

That was absolutely awesome.  It really makes you think about the impressions you have on people. Thanks Wisdom.  You certainly have impressed me.

[Ovedya]

OKay, darn it, if you make me cry again, I'm going to....well.....cry!

[Guest shilou]

Wow Wisdom thank you, not much to add through the tears.

Love in Yeshua

Shilou

[traveller]

True true true - we never do know the impact we make on others. There is one person  in my past that made a life altering change in me, and I don't even know his name. He wasn't the only one, but he sure shined brighter than all the rest.

[Adstar]

Yes..a beautiful story it got a tear out of me.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[Catsmeow]

I'd been feeling really blue lately and you just lifted me up. Thank you, brother...You're such a blessing!

[IslandRose]

Beautiful Story!

I remember my mother reading this story to me when I was young and believe me, that was quite a few years ago. I have heard it several times since then and it has always touched me, because it is so true.

[passionatefury]

I am glad to see I am not the only one with tears in my eyes after that.

[Guest shilou]

Island Rose

That was wonderful and yes we never know so we should treat everyone like the gates of heaven are waiting for them. You just reminded me of an old friend that tried to bring me to the Lord many years before I came. I think I'll try and find her.

Love in Yeshua

Shilou