Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Touching and emotional

Today, I went to meet a couple in a coffee shop in Los Altos.  Background for this meeting:  During the long weekend, I got a message via Etsy from someone who wanted to get a fingerprint pendant made.  She mentioned that her husband is dying of ALS (the same thing that Stephen Hawking, one of my favorite scientists of all time has) and would like to get his fingerprint on a pendant as a beautiful memory.  We chatted a bit and decided on meeting today.

Usually I like to go the decided venue before the scheduled time, secure a nice table to sit, relax and wait.  Today, I got caught up in doing some enameling work at home and reached just in time.  I see a couple at a table and immediately felt they have to be the folks I came for.  I must admit I was a bit nervous going in as this is the first time I am creating a memory pendant with adult only.  But within a few minutes, we were chatting away about everything in the world.  Both of them are so nice and open, sharing stories and information about ALS.  His outlook towards life is soo amazing.  I can only imagine how hard it must be for him knowing and dealing with it and his wife for going through all this and be there for him anytime he needs.

While deciding what shape she would like the pendant to be and what texture would be nice for that pendant in the back (and he decides which one would look the best which was sooo cute), he was sharing stories about his stay in Japan and how his grandfather used to work and lived close to Mumbai (Bombay in those days) and how parents should love their children unconditionally and be there for them no matter what.... Even while getting the fingerprint done (had to do it twice), he couldnt help but joke about not having perfect fingerprints:)  Between him teasing his wife and her responses, one can see how much love there is between them and it just touched my heart to see that.

After the pendant is done, as usual, I was sitting for a little while for the pendant to dry before transporting.  While chatting, he looked at the enameled pendant I was wearing and mentioned that he would like (and he suspects most ALS patients would like this) to have something (cant call it a pendant for a guy right) that has 3 letters DNR written on it (for Do Not Resuscitate) and was explaining to me why he would not like to be resuscitated if something was to happen to him and he is paralyzed.  He explained why he would not like to be which I wont go over here.  I understood what he was saying but at the same time looking at her face also understood why it would be the most difficult thing for her to do.  I told him, for myself, that's the decision I would take too but if it is for someone I dearly love, I am not sure it would be that easy.  For that, he said that we are not logical and I told him that yes, we are women, and sometimes women are more emotional than logical.

Irrespective of whether I am emotional or logical, I decided to do one for him in copper with red enamel (he wanted to be big and eye catching) with the letters DNR on both sides (at no charge ofcourse).

Just before leaving the coffee shop his comment was "you are fun for a girl"and I told him I will take it as a big complement.  This is the most touching and emotional experience I have had with Kuukivi.  I came out with more energy than I went inside.  People like this couple share their goodness and positive energy around wherever they go....May he live like Stephen Hawking beating all odds....

1 comment:

Patrik Kusek said...

So wonderful. Sometimes we can forget that the jewelry we make is more than just pretty adornments. They are often cherished and loved. It's wonderful that your design can be part of their memories. Special indeed.
Patrik