a story of kindness and the woman who is more then deserving

When I got to work on Tuesday morning I received a text from my friend Silvia,

(you guys might remember her, i wrote an entry about her in august. . ) “Just wanted to let you know, mom passed this morning.” I gasped when I read the text and my co-worker Pao knew immediately why. I had been telling her about Silvia’s mom being in the hospital battling cancer for weeks now.

I responded to her text right away. I didn’t know what to say so I sent her my love, my sympathies, and hugs. Later that day I called her to see how she was doing. She sounded okay, was just a bit sniffly. That’s the thing about Silvia. In the 14+ years that we’ve been friends, I’ve learned that she’s a person driven by faith, not emotion. Her faith is very strong. She kept telling me, “I’m good, I know mom is in a better place.”

The next day at work she called me and asked me if I could do her a huge favor. She wanted me to blow up the favorite picture of her mom. She only had a 5×7 small print of it, and there was a lot of stuff in the background. I told her I’d be more then happy to do that for her.

When I got home from work she was already here. We talked and she seemed to be doing very well. Not one tear, a bit of sadness, but overall considering the events from the day before, she was doing well. Last night I worked on the picture, I scanned it as best I could and did the best I could in photoshop. I set her on a black background so she could stand out and tried to sharpen it as much as I could so it wouldn’t look so pixilated. I wanted to print it from a 5×7 to a 16×20.

When I got to work, I asked my boss for a huge personal favor. I wanted to know if she could do her retouching because she’s better at it then I am. She worked on the file and in minutes, it looked awesome. I then asked her for a personal favor, I had already asked my other boss, but I wanted to tell this boss too. I wanted to use the lab and her name to rush it and get it to print since the funeral is tomorrow. I told them I’d write them a check for the cost. My 2nd boss said I could definitely do that and not to worry about the money, it was from the studio to Silvia and her family. They all know Silvia because she attended the Grand Opening Charity Launch we had in August and she helped us out that night.

I was touched. I immediately sent the file over at 1 p.m. and personally called our contact girl, Brenda, to tell her this was a personal portrait that I needed ASAP. Unfortunately, Brenda wasn’t there but her boss was. She immediately took charge and said that she would personally take care of it. At about 2:30 Brenda called and asked, “Claudia is this for Silvia and her family?” I said yes. She was a bit tearful on the phone when she told me that Silvia’s mom and her mom were best friends. They had known each other for years and lived around the same area. She said she just found out yesterday that she has passed away.

Small world! You just never know!

She then told me the print was ready and to head to the lab and pick it up. I got there and told me not to even worry about it (the receipt). Wow, I was touched again! I speed to the framers and asked the framing guy (whom I had already talked to the day before concerning the portrait) that I needed it right away. He said it would take him just a couple of minutes. I decided to go next door to get my eyebrows waxed since I was already there. When I came out 10 minutes later he was done. It was framed in a simple black frame and it looked gorgeous.

I thanked him and asked him how much it would be. He told me, “You know what? Any friend of yours is my friend too. I might need a favor one day too. Take it, it’s yours.” I thanked him profusely. I left immediately and picked up my mom so we could go to the visitation and take the portrait right away.

I was so happy I could get that portrait for Silvia and her family to see. It’s Silvia’s favorite picture of her mom and now it’s at the funeral home beside her so everyone can see her shining eyes and gorgeous smile.

Everybody’s kindness and good will really made me smile today. Human understanding and kindness never seizes to surprise me.

r.i.p.