One day, early this year, I was having lunch with Rebecca, a friend and co-worker, at Niki’s in Greektown. After settling in, she unwrapped her silverware and began playing with the paper wrapper. We talked about our projects and life in general as, even though we work for the same company, we rarely get to catch up. A moment later she set down in front of me a small, perfect origami crane. I was quite literally amazed. She hadn’t once looked down at what she was doing as we lost ourselves in conversation, and I truly thought she was just fidgeting with it, as I’ve done countless times with a straw wrapper or other miscellaneous scrap of paper. She made another, and I took them both back to my cube where to this day they adorn the top of my monitor.
Time went on and with our schedules, we never really got a chance to get out for lunch again, except for hitting the cafeteria downstairs. Last week, before the Christmas holiday, I was in my cube working when a small gift box was placed on my desk. It was Rebecca, leaning against the wall, smiling. In the box was a clear glass ornament, and contained within, suspended from a very fine, almost transparent thread, was a green origami crane.
Once again, I was blown away, this time by the thoughtfulness, the meaning of this gift. It hangs on my tree tonight and will for years to come, a reminder of a dear friend and this particular chapter of my life.
Thank you, my friend! Happy New Year!