RELATIONSHIPS, a key
to a HAPPY life
Thomas Croschuk
Wouldn’t life be great if
you won the lottery? Certainly a ten million dollar windfall would make changes
in one’s life, but would life really be much better?
In the book, Baggage burdens., the author’s foundational
value for rich human relationships serves as an important key for the happiness
for many characters. Wealth is not an obstacle to happiness. Jill’s grandmother
is financially secure, but her greatest delight is her involvement with people,
and her greatest sorrow is the separation from her daughter and grandchildren.
A taste of the joy of
human connections in this novel begins with Thomas Croschuk, a farmer’s market
vendor. Happily married with six children, Thomas grows vegetables for the joy
of interacting with his market customers. His wife, Rebecca, doesn’t appreciate
the depth of his attachment for the vendor life until the retirement shadow
looms over Thomas.
“Lately Mark has been
there helping Thomas. You know Thomas is seventy-one. He’s finding it difficult
to set up for the market. The last two Saturday mornings I dropped by and
helped him. Closing isn’t so bad for him. He has less produce. I told him one
day he will have to give it up. He hates too. He’ll miss his customers. They’re
his friends. Thomas will miss the other vendors too. He knows the life history
of most of the regulars. I suggested finding someone else to share his kiosk
like he did with Joseph. He liked it. That’s how Mark came into the picture.”
* * *
As May nears its
conclusion, the school’s play becomes the main topic of conversation. Sarah
drafts her all-too-willing mother into helping her memorize her lines. Amber
cuts her holiday short to join the family for dress rehearsal. Bill promises to
come. At Sarah’s urging, Jill phones to invite Rebecca.
Rebecca is pleased to hear
Jill’s voice and to receive the invitation to the play. Her only request was
that they come on Saturday instead of Friday night. Her explanation saddens
Jill. Thomas misses the times he spent at the farmer’s market. He now looks for
excuses to go to Camrose on Saturdays so he can visit venders he knew for
years.
Thomas’ love for others is only surpassed by other’s
love for him.
“Thomas Croschuk, a farm hand, sent me a letter telling me Uncle Mike had died.”
Jill hears a sniffle and
sees Joseph’s other hand wipe tears away.
“At least he didn’t die
alone. He had friends, friends who were with him to the end. Thomas was very
special. That’s what a paragraph in my uncle’s will stated.”
They walk in silence until
Joseph stops and looks at Jill.
“You know,” begins Joseph.
He pauses and swallows. “You know, Uncle Mike left me two-thirds of his land.”
Surprise crosses Jill’s face. “I only visited a few times, and he gave me
two-thirds of his land! I was only twenty-one. His will said I was like a son
to him. Uncle Mike never married.”
* * *
“What happened to the
other third of your Uncle Mike’s land?”
“Oooh! He gave it to Thomas. He said that Thomas worked with him for
twenty some years. Uncle Mike hired him when Thomas was twenty. No one else in
the community had a job for Thomas. Uncle Mike told me Thomas was like an
answer to a prayer. You see the doctor had told Uncle Mike, because of a heart
problem, he shouldn’t over tax himself. Then Thomas appeared asking for any
kind of a job. Later it was Thomas and Rebecca who cared for Uncle Mike during
his last half year when he was bed ridden, just as if he was part of their
family. So Uncle Mike gave him a third of his land.”
Thomas’ relationships made him as rich as a
millionaire.
 |
haiku capsule:
man who serves with joy
loves
knowing his customers
lottery jackpot
Next blog: RELATIONSHIPS,
a key to a HAPPY life––
as seen through Jill’s eyes
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