“…We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” – Herman Melville

Approaching the town of Santa Ana….
Santa Ana-Manabi Province – Ecuador – Several days ago I witnessed a subtle-but-noteworthy interaction that illustrates Melville’s statement. The three people involved will never know how their actions affected me:
Four days before Christmas and half an hour from home, I dashed into a store to buy a few essentials and hoped there would be a special cashier for shoppers with ten items or less.
The store was not crowded, and I quickly retrieved the items then waited in the checkout line behind a middle-aged couple. I did not notice the gangly pre-teen lad until words were whispered, and he dashed back to the aisles and returned with a plastic soccer ball. His sparkling blue eyes illustrated pure joy, and his smile seemed to brighten the entire store! His close-cropped hair showcased his eyes, while well-defined dark brows offset a sprinkling of freckles that peppered his ivory skin.
The cashier scanned the ball, but there was no data; they nodded, and the young man bolted to the store a second time. I’m not sure if the adults were his parents or grandparents, but the love that ebbed between the three of them was obvious. While Tall Young Lad was sprinting the aisles, I mentioned his captivating eyes and his sweet soul, and I predicted that he had a very special future. He returned with a different ball and presented it to the cashier. The scan worked, and the six-dollar ball was placed in the hands of an exceptionally-thrilled young man. I needed no photo to capture the joy on his face; it’s burned in my memory!
A six-dollar ball.
Sometimes less is so much more.
……
The following images show some of the children participating in a nearby parade. Can you spot my precious neighbors? !

You’ve not met this young man, but he recognized me before I did him!

There he is in normal attire – trying to help the adults clear the invasive water hyacinths! – Let’s go back to the parade!
I hope that this story and images left a smile in your heart. Hang on to that smile, and if you have the opportunity, buy a youngster a six-dollar ball and pass along the smile!
lovely story and images
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You start off with a great quote from Melville, and then you soar from there, both in prose and pictures. Fantastic. And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.
So easy to make someone’s world a little better! I wish you much joy this festive season, Lisa. I know you will be sharing it. 🙂 🙂
Lisa, you are such a Word Artist. You paint such beautiful Word Pictures. Thank you for enriching my life.
Much love and good wishes to you this holiday season, Lisa! Thanks for all the joy you share!
“Non solum nobis” it was our school motto. A good one to try and live up to. I loved the story of the lad with the ball. You have a very happy Christmas Lisa.
Thanks for all the lovely smiles and laughter and the story of the $6 ball. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
What would be Christmas without children dear Lisa! I am going tomorrow to Mindo and I am sure I will find plenty of children to enjoy this special time of the year! Merry Christmas to you! ❤️
Such a sweet story, Lisa. Thank you for sharing those photos. So much smiling hearts! Happy Christmas, dear Lisa!
Simple pleasures, Lisa! May you enjoy many of them in 2018. Be well and have a wonderful holiday! 🙂
I am so pleased to have found you. I love your work and writing.
I am staying in the middle of the countryside in Kent (UK) with other artists enjoying a very creative holiday season. I hope that yours is joyful and creative. Janet 🙂
A beautiful post Lisa. The spirit of family, love and Christmas was so good to read about and the smiling faces in the slide show brings joy to my heart. Have a peaceful and joyous Christmas in your corner of paradise and I look forward to hearing and seeing more in 2018
A marvelous post!!! Merry Christmas! All the very best of the holiday season to you and yours. I look forward to entering a fresh new year that holds many new conversations. Hugs coming your way.
If I were to describe the world in which you live, it would be with the words “color” and “smiles.” Granted, there are times when smiles disappear and life is hard, but the smiles, like the sun, always come back. Here’s to a New Year filled with color and smiles — and fewer days of unhappiness!
One of your typically beautiful stories Lisa! 🙂
Indeed, I needed to read this. It has been a year of such dismal ugliness, such selfishness. It’s nice to know there are still people with values on the planet. Thanks for sharing, sweet Lisa.
Dear Lisa what a beautiful story and a memorable young man, His soul connection went deep into your own soul as one soul recognised another.. Shine on my friend xx