It's just that twinkle in the eye that makes my day

[K'Ehleyr]

'John The Clean' is a cleaner (wow and the name gave that away already) in a pub where I worked upto a year ago. He is 73, single, independant and the wisest person I know. All I know about him before is that he was in the RAF but...
He keeps himself to himself. He says nothing ~ unless asked. He does nothing extra in his work ~ but would if needed. He certainly does not suffer fools gladly or otherwise and does not encourage 'social engagement' for 'the sake of it'. He finishes his cleaning at 11am and has a couple of pints whilst doing the Telegraph crossword ~ he takes the Times home to do later.
I pop in every couple of months to see him, but went to see him today because I heard he had been hospitalised and I was concerned. It sounds like just a case of not looking after himself. He is back to work and looking good. But the thing that really reassures me that he is well is that 'twinkle' in his eyes. Whether departing a bit of gossip, sorry observation, ~ and I tell you now I had to go months before he assessed me as worthy of his trust, or hearing my news, which he comments on in a valued way, he is as sharp as a diamond, which discribes his personality as well.
I admire and love that guy, It makes me feel special the way his eyes twinkle when he talks to me.

So, who else do you know who's eyes twinkle, who has so much more in them, that makes you feel so 'honoured' to know them and be accepted by them.

 

[cubbie]

There are some fabulous people who can enjoy life, no matter what their profession. Kudos for you for following up on him.

 

[RJDiogenes]

When I think of twinkling eyes, I think of Holdy's Avatar. * Shudders. *

Actually, this puts me in mind of a couple of people. When I was a young man starting out at St. Margaret's Hospital, one of our 'elder' physicians sort of took me under his wing and that's one reason I advanced so quickly there. He had a lot of gravitas, but always a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Ultimately, he was appointed PCAC when UR/QI spun off into a separate department and he made me Assistant Director. Then when I was at BMC, an elderly gentlemen in Housekeeping befriended me; he had a lot of hard luck with sickness in his family, but he always kept that twinkle in his eye, especially when he talked about being out on the water and fishing.

 

[An Officer]

That's such a good topic, but a very tough choice for me to make! I'll start with the most recent: An elderly lady who attended a class I used to go to. This wonderful lady was quite striking, with a shock of perfectly coiffed white hair. A theatre actress in her former years, and a romantic fiction writer in her latter years. She had a lovely voice and a perfect diction. More often than not wearing silks and linens - with a particular fascination for pure brilliant whites, and little colourful gems in her ears. Tended towards great displays of affection, and when she gathered you to her bosom in a maternal manner, you couldn't help but bask in the conforting scent of flowers and old fashioned talcum powder. Extremely well traveled, and full of stories - one of the more outragious tales I heard was the time she had a few too many and made a pass at a nun. I think my jaw dropped and didn't recover for the rest of the afternoon.

She had the brightest saphire eyes, with a remarkable youthful brightness, which did indeed twinkle happily as she regailed us with these singular stories. Reminded me of the song When Irish eyes are smiling. And sure enough, she had been raised in Ireland. Remarkably insightful and forthright, too - could see right through you and sum you up in one neat, if rather shocking sentence. Spending time with her was an uncomfortable combination of joy and fear as to what new little nuggets about yourself she might offer up. I often felt quite dense by comparison when chatting with her, but she always made you feel welcome and accepted. Her name was French and lyrical and suited her perfectly. I've never met anyone quite like her before or since.

Some people have an ability to lift you up, and make you feel like an impressionable schoolgirl again - I'm glad that's what your John the Clean does for you, too. I liked this exchange very much.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Thank you all for sharing these stories. There are some really special older folk out there who really can enrich our lives.

An Officer ~ your lady sounds fantastic, I love the bit about the nun My John has the same piercing blue eyes that you feel can see into your soul.

RJD ~ your guys sound great too. Especially the Housekeeper who obvioulsy dealt with his families bad luck with immense bravery.

and Cubbie, thank you but I just love the guy.

When I worked with him I mentioned planning to have 'proper breakfast' every day. Within about 6 weeks he had kitted me out with silver-plated toast rack, egg cups, napkin rings, a silver hallmarked butter knife and little pots of marmalade and jam all sourced from charity shops where he was allowed to rummage around in the back rooms. All wrapped, usually in yesterdays newspaper and shyly passed to me in private . In return I would cook and bring in for him an extra portion of dinner or fresh fruit. We would also cut out newspaper articles or cartoons that we knew would appeal to the other. We had one particular cartoon which we had displayed in the pub until the person we were privately lampooning got the joke and it was swiftly removed. Obviously we both claimed ignorance

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Well...the closest I can get to any of this, is the waitress at my favorite NYC deli (Katz's). She's seen me come in there every day for lunch - which I do, whenever I'm in the city - and order a cheesesteak. So that's what she calls me! "Hey, Cheesesteak!"

(Last time I was there, she wasn't, but two or three other people who worked there picked up the slack, and *they* called me Cheesesteak. )

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

When I was an undergraduate there was a priest on campus who had that twinkle. He was retired from teaching but still lived at the priory on campus and was still involved in the campus.

You could often find him on the mall, wearing his trademark straw hat, reading a book and engaging students in conversation.

He spent WWII in a Japanese prisoner camp in the Phillipines and was liberated to Australia. He always had a special place in his heart for Australia. One of his trademarks was the singing of "Waltzing Matilda" at various functions. He would lead and everybody would pick it up.

He was the priest at the hospital when Kennedy was shot.

He seemed to know everybody on campus, it was a small campus, and always had an encouraging word. Every day was "glorious". His twinkle was part love of life and part michievious.

In the 90's the campus was renovating a couple of buildings and dedicated the courtyard between the buildings to him.

He passed away nearly 10 years ago and the church was overflowing. People who hadn't been back to campus in years came for his funeral.

 

[barnaclelapse]

My mother is a lot like that. Fifty-three years old, and she's still very much defined by the people and things she loves. You see that in her when she talks.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It's a shame that all the morons, psychopaths and mental defectives get all the publicity; we really do have many wonderful people in the world.

RJD ~ your guys sound great too. Especially the Housekeeper who obvioulsy dealt with his families bad luck with immense bravery.

He did. First he lost his wife, then his daughter, to cancer. Ultimately, he lost his own life to cancer as well. He always talked about how he was going to return to North Carolina when he retired and spend the rest of his life fishing. He never made it.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

It's a shame that all the morons, psychopaths and mental defectives get all the publicity; we really do have many wonderful people in the world.

RJD ~ your guys sound great too. Especially the Housekeeper who obvioulsy dealt with his families bad luck with immense bravery.

He did. First he lost his wife, then his daughter, to cancer. Ultimately, he lost his own life to cancer as well. He always talked about how he was going to return to North Carolina when he retired and spend the rest of his life fishing. He never made it.

Absolutely right RJD for the first bit ~ we need to appreciate these wonderful people who touch our lives more. That's so sad he never got to end his days fishing in peace.
Bro, your priest sounds like a wonderful guy, the dedication of the courtyard, and his funeral must have demonstrated how much he was loved.
Barnaclelapse, make sure your Mum knows how special she is
Baba, change your order and surprise them and find out her name and say good morning

 

[An Officer]

What's also a bit sad, is that the people these tributes are about aren't getting to hear what lovely things are being said about them. It would feel great to be appreciated... especially if you're not fully conscious of just how awesome you are.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

What's also a bit sad, is that the people these tributes are about aren't getting to hear what lovely things are being said about them. It would feel great to be appreciated... especially if you're not fully conscious of just how awesome you are.

True, but then most of these people are so self-deprecating they'd be embarrassed
God I hope I end up like one of them and not some sad, bitter old woman with a sharp walking stick and an endlessly complaining mouth
and if anyone says 'what do you mean end up like...?' I'll poke them with my stick

 

[An Officer]

Oh, I can never imagine not wanting to hear about myself! I'm my number one concern. Anything else makes no sense at all...

Some people are just light years ahead. Old souls or something...

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Oh, I can never imagine not wanting to hear about myself! I'm my number one concern. Anything else makes no sense at all...

Some people are just light years ahead. Old souls or something...

Oh yes An Officer, you are just so cool and great

(was that right? )

Yes old souls, but I'm having second thoughts about following the Kung Fu direction now

 

[An Officer]

Just right... Yeah, I wanna hear more stories!