Uplifting

Accumulated fatigue from the election campaign caught up with me last week when I returned to regular shifts. This, plus normal takings resulted in a lack of eagerness for meaningful passenger contact.

So it was a pleasant surprise on the weekend I was hailed in Newtown by a young woman holding an antique horn. I immediately requested she give it a blast and the startling noise woke me from my lethargy.

“It’s a gift for my sister,” she laughed. “It will be perfect for her school history project.”

She purchased the horn after a big win on the poker machines, also enabling her to indulge on a taxi rather than catching public transport to an afternoon party.

“What shall I do,” she mused, “put the money into rent or go shopping? I think I’ll buy some clothes.” This could easily have sounded superficial but there seemed to be a deeper quality at play...

Her carefreeness was timely and refreshing and not even some heavy traffic or being late diminished her cheerfulness. But then, she had just won $1000.

I found this intriguing as she didn’t fit my perception of a gambler. Normally I encounter poker machine players in sullen moods, grinding their teeth after blowing the wages. Rather this girl was positive, sober and presented with an uplifting personality.

“I only bet around $50 a time,” she said, “but I usually win something.” With her luck, I suggested, she should be heading for the Casino but this was rejected as folly. “No, I’m only a casual player,” she said. “It’s not like I intentionally go out to gamble, it’s just some light entertainment for me.”

This carefree attitude was soon put into context when she revealed having cystic fibrous. “CF is genetic and affects the immune system,” she explained when I expressed ignorance of the condition. “I’ve had it from birth and shouldn’t be here because they only gave me three months.”

“But I have to be careful to protect my energy levels,” she said. “Last night I went out for cocktails with some friends but called it a night when they decided to party on.”

During childhood she had been hospitalised for long periods with other kids suffering from the same condition. Only she and another from the group were still alive, her resilience due to having a relatively low grade strain of the disease.

“But it’s funny,” she added, “because I was teased at school when my body was developing slowly. But now some of those kids send me friend’s requests on Facebook because as an adult I look normal. So I’m like, whatever,” she chuckled in bemusement.

What impressed me most about this young woman was her positive spirit. Despite living with an insidious disease she didn’t define herself by it, but rather accepted her limitations and seemed to treat every day alive as a good day.

Later, this got me thinking about the gift of good health and how often its taken for granted. For that I was grateful and uplifted.

Comments

[future aspiration]

i specialize in shocktreatment myself....it restarts the heart...it gives a hot blush..it makes you think twice as fast....its like going to the drive in and forgetting about everyone else for ten hours and steam cleaning the interior of the cab with sweat....

[dazzler]

well ..being of the delicate sort myself...ive been plagued by many an alsop....i also weave many an intruiging tale....and i get an energy boost and a facelift every single time....uplifting is the "word that you heard"