Observations at the bazaar

[mbarker]

Today our church here in Japan held its yearly bazaar, and I was asked to help with the used book sales. Lots of fun, watching people pour over the books and decide what to buy.

Anyway, I fold origami cranes to pass the time. So I've folded a crane, and here's a young mother with a little one - maybe three? - watching me. Since the little one smiled nicely at me, I reached over and showed her how this crane flaps its wings. The smile grew. And, of course, I gave her the crane.

She wrapped her little hand around it and mashed it into a ball.

The mother went into an ecstasy of apologies, which I just shrugged off. No, really, not a problem.

And the little one, of course, had the biggest smile. She was so happy with herself.

Which, after all, was what I intended and enjoyed. The folded crane was ephemeral. I'm not sure whether the happiness was ephemeral or not, but I certainly enjoy it. I'll trade one mashed origami for a big kid's smile anyday.

Comments

[webbiegrrl.livejournal.com]

Hey, Mike, I noticed you haven't friended fellow Barfly Dale rosencrantz23 but he has the MOST amazing paper folding site linked from his LJ here.

Can you believe that stuff? Can you DO that stuff? Are you now going to have to learn how to do that stuff? :-) I read through some of the guy's "explanations" (with pictures even) and I just don't get it at all. And I used to do Origami as a kid but this....this is wayyyyy beyond anything I ever imagined let alone did. Since I'd just read your post here I thought of you when I read Dale's post. LiveJournal, connecting friends of friends with other friends...or just flisted friends ;)

-sry