December 28th, 2009
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‘The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson
As I walked the beach with my family this week we looked out from the shore, and just two hundred metres away we could see the silhouettes of a dozen dolphins surfing the waves.
Over the next ten minutes or so, as we continued to walk, we were accompanied by this seaside group of performers as they leapt out of the water and surfed and frolicked in the waves – as if they were putting on this performance for only the four of us.
A common event some would say. But for us it was miraculous.
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September 22nd, 2008
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There is one particular aspect of the American way of life that I really enjoy, and that is the fact that it is expected, by those who serve you, that you not only pay them for their service, but that you always add some extra money to the bill in the form of a tip.
Now for those of us who live in Australia, this is not a normal practice.
However, at the end of my trip this time, I needed to spend an hour in the lobby of my hotel as I waited for the shuttle bus, that was booked to take me to the airport. It was then that I noticed the bellman for the first time. He had a great attitude and seemed to make everybody he served laugh. At one point he even did a little jig on the hotel floor. I appreciated that, and I know that the rest of his customers did too.
He was somewhat surprised though as I thrust some dollars into his hand before leaving the hotel foyer. He asked me, ‘What was that for?’ I responded, ‘For making me happy.’ In my books this fellow was not just receiving a tip for having a great attitude. He was TIP-TOP.
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