Many months back, when I was feeling particularly down, I picked up Lance Armstrong's autobiography and was so inspired by it, I wanted to do my big by wearing the yellow LIVESTRONG band. I knew they were marketed by Nike, but when I went to the nearest Nike outlet, not only did I not find the band, they seemed unaware of the existance of any such thing. Perhaps I could ask someone who was going abroad to get one for me. I let the matter rest.
A couple of months later, I saw a collegue from another office wearing the wristband. When I asked her where she got it from, she told me that she had been given a pack of five bands of which she had given away only three. She promised to get me a band the next time she came to my office. She came quite a few times after that, but never remembered. The last time I met her, she exclaimed, "Oh god, I have forgotten again."
"That's okay", I assured her. "When it is my time to get the band, I will get it."
"No, didi. I will send it to you through someone else."
"Oh no, don't do that. I would like it more if you give me the band than if you send it to me."
That had been three weeks back.
We had a staff day on Wednesday, and the moment she saw me, she slipped the yellow LIVESTRONG band onto my wrist. "This is for completing the marathon", she said. "When I heard about it, I knew I could not delay giving you the band."
I could not think of a better way of commemorating the completion of the marathon than by sporting a brand new LIVESTRONG band. Even though I was not consciously thinking of Lance Armstrong that day, he is virtually the paton saint of endurance atheletes.
"Didn't I always tell you that the band would come to me when the time was right?", I asked her after giving her a hug. "There could not have been better time, could there?"
I could have got the band from her two months, two weeks, or two days back, and I would have cherished it. Instead I got it at a time when it was invested with more meaning than it could at any other time. Is there any reason for me to not believe in Destiny.
10 comments:
What a wonderful time to get the band!
Dipali - It is, isn't it? So much more precious, because it feels like I have earned it.
Very thoughtful! And perfect timing.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen
I run a lot everyday without any band
I love the name of your blog and really understand it! I'm a coffee addict also!
Stop in and visit my blog, http://www.dianaraab.wordpress.com.
Happy writing!
Diana
What a great post!! I found you via Gutsy Writer. I too have a connection to the LIVESTRONG yellow band. My brother gave one to our Dad, who is currently living in a nursing home with Alzheimer's. I blog about his journey, along with other things in my life, on my blog. I wanted one too, and ironically, like you believe, I wanted someone to give me one. My daughter knew this, and she came across one and saved it for me and presented it to me after I traveled from my home in Henderson, NV to her's in Beaumont, Ca. She knows how difficult it is seeing my Dad and her Grandpa, deteriorate a little every day. The bracelet reminds me to be strong and to notice more positives than negatives in each day.
I love your meaningful and thought provoking post. I am also a fan of Lance Armstrong, and my son wanted to watch him in France last year, because grandpa lives there.
I have a small gift for you on my blog post.
TOTAL destiny. Never has destiny been more destined. And a good lesson here for all. We yearn for physical possessions, but if and when they are meant to come to us they will. I like that!!
Oh, and an apology. I just realized I had failed to respond to your recent wonderful comment on my blog (My "Am I The Only One...?" post.) I do say I'm sorry. Just as oversight. I'll try to pay better attention in the future!
Too much beer. :)
@ Elizabeth - thank you. A gift most cherished.
@ Diana - thanks for dropping by. I will pop across too soon.
@ Donna - we have more in common than just the band. My father too had dementia, and it was painful to see a once proud man wither away a bit at a time. I can just send positive wishes your way - you will need it all. I'll pop across soon.
@ Sonya - thank you so much for the wonderful gift. Means a lot to me, specially coming from you. And I do hope your son managed to see him last year, or sees him this year.
@ Janie - and sometimes, if we leave it to destiny, we realise we never really wanted the thing in the first place at all. And not responding to the comment is perfectly okay -
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