Paul Stories: Goodbye Left Knee Cartilage
What The Fourth's All About

Crystal Bowl Moment

When my brother Steve and I were in grade school, we were roughhousing in the living room one day. This was a double no-no; the living room was off limits except when there was company. And roughhousing, with two boys, was off limits at all times.

Suddenly, we knocked the Czechoslovakian cut glass candy bowl off the coffee table. It broke. We were terrified. It has been a gift to our mother from Vera Jonak, the Czech refugee who lived two doors down the block. We were petrified. Surely this was the end of the world, or something like it. We were terrified at the prospect of mom’s reaction.

But of course, Mark Twain was right, “I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” This one did not. When mom found out, she said, “It’s all right boys. Stay out of the living room, and try not to play so roughly.” She was so calm and sweet that Steve and I were baffled and overwhelmed.

It was then that she taught us an important life lesson (one which, as I recall, she said she learned from one of her own parents), “It is only a physical object. Physical objects can be replaced. Neither of you can be replaced; as long as you weren’t hurt; that’s what matters.”

I sincerely hope and believe that, when the time comes (if ever) with my grandchildren and some physical object, that I will remember my crystal bowl moment. I have no intention of teaching them that actions don’t have consequences; just that people matter more than things.

Comments

Robert E. Malchman

See, this is where being mildly dyslexic can be a lot of fun: I read the headline the first time as "Crystal Bowl Movement," and I was really curious to what it could be about. Apologies.

Robert E. Malchman

"Crystal Bowel Movement." See what I mean about mild dyslexia?

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