Giddy-up

…..continued from previous post

Dear Boo and Bubble,

The next morning – Sunday – we gathered around the kitchen table and great Granddaddy Schaefer plied Eizo with another Kendrick breakfast. This time it was pancakes and bacon. Our conversation revolved around the football the day before, with Granddaddy continuing to search for some rational explanation of the game that would make sense to Eizo. The harder he tried, the harder we laughed until all talk devolved into a series of giggles and gasps. The time totally slipped away.

“Oh, my Lord,” Granddaddy shouted when he saw the clock. “Church starts in 45 minutes. We're going to have to get on our horses and go!”

We all scooted back from the table in a loud clatter.

Eizo stood up, confused.

“You have horses?” he asked. “We will ride horses to church?”

Granddaddy shook his head and chuckled.

“No, no......that's just an expression we use when we need to get moving, Eizo.”

“An expression? I thought that was like a smile.”

“Oh goodness,” Granddaddy responded. “I hope I can explain this better than football!”

After a mad scramble, we made it to First Baptist on time. Eizo observed intently everything about the service. He took his cues from Granddaddy on when to do things, like stand up, sit down or bow his head in prayer. Granddaddy was very grateful that this was not a Sunday for communion or – heaven forbid – baptism. Trying to explain those would make “football” and “expression” look like a piece of cake.

We spent the rest of Sunday introducing Eizo to family, neighbors and friends. On Monday morning, after many hugs and final laughs, he boarded his flight back to Washington. We stayed in touch regularly over the years. Every year, we received a Christmas card from South Korea. And I still have the two beautiful Geisha dolls he sent me. As so often happens, though, time and space intervened and we lost track of Eizo.

In recounting these stories with you boys, I've realized something. Eizo Shindo was my first exposure to someone from another culture - someone worlds apart in just about every way. His willingness to come stay with us as virtual strangers and immerse himself completely into our lives showed me that we, too, should be open to the world...that we should go places and explore different cultures. It doesn't mean that we have to change....it just means that we grow.... in understanding and appreciation for others.

Eizo, if you're out there and happen to run across this blog while Googling yourself.......thank you!