Old people wear glasses, need hearing aids, and walk with canes. However, old people also see clearest, do the most listening, and have no trouble supporting others. I have had a few special moments with some of our elders recently and wanted to share one of them here.
I was driving home from school one day, basking in the hot sun from what seems to be hotter after coming through the windshield. Enjoying the warmth of the leather seats on my legs, we stop at a traffic light. I look over to my right to see a bus drop off one, two, three and four people at the stop. The first three scurry and bustle off with their bags, phones, jackets and keys, while the older lady slowly makes her way off the bus. As the bus drives away she notices a majestic and fully bloomed cherry blossom. I myself have noticed the beauty of the cherry blossoms this time of year. She stops, and stares at its branches. Then its leaves. And finally, its flowers. She smiles. I smile too. I have never felt such radiating innocence before. She did not know I was watching her. She was able to enjoy this slow and peaceful moment, while I was blessed with admiring it.
Innocence is one of my favourite words. By definition, it is known (as a noun) as “a pure, guileless, or naive person”. To me, innocence most comes to mind when you are experiencing a peaceful moment in which you feel a connection to something. A connection that seems so meaningless. Seemingly meaningless connections, this is innocence.