Free lunch.
By Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (13020)
Ireland
September 28, 2024 3:08pm CST
A man came over to our table as we lunched today - I was having souvlaki. I assumed he was checking that we were satisfied with our food, but no. He was telling us that he was paying for our meal.
Oh. Why?
He was overjoyed that we had our daughter with us - she has Down Syndrome as many of you are aware. It transpired that he had a sister with Down Syndrome, now deceased, and he loves to see such people out and about with their families rather than being kept out of sight as happens.
There were tears in his eyes as he spoke, and it made me wonder about why we see so few people with Down Syndrome out and about - in Iceland the inconvenience has been irradiated by abortion I’m told.
We never made a conscious decision about having our daughter on holiday, in restaurants, doing all the usual things. It’s just what we naturally do and we all love it.
So we got a free lunch.
9 people like this
8 responses
@Dreamerby (5153)
• Calcutta, India
29 Sep
Yes true. They are compassionate; that's how my personal experience goes. I have a distant family member who has Down's syndrome.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Sep
@Dreamerby You're right about the compassion - and very, very loving.
3 people like this
@Dreamerby (5153)
• Calcutta, India
29 Sep
@JudyEv Yes. They are very loving and compassionate. I wouldn't see them as an embarrassment.
3 people like this
@Dreamerby (5153)
• Calcutta, India
29 Sep
I didn't know that some places allow this. I don't know what happens here.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223021)
• Chile
28 Sep
We love our children but I agree: some people hide members of the family that are nor "perfect". I´d say that the imperfection belongs to the people who hide them. They are incapable of feeling love.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16764)
• China
29 Sep
The man missed his sister so much ! Meanwhile he admired you for the way you treated your daughter.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79858)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Sep
That is such a heartwarming story, I am glad you take your daughter with you,
2 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (62509)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
29 Sep
I don't even know that I knew you had a daughter. But I love this. All of it.
I hate when people make other people feel like they need to hide away because they aren't perfect. Or that people think that its okay to treat people differently because of their different abilities etc.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (178701)
• United States
29 Sep
That man did a wonderful thing. Challenged children need to live as normal lives as they possibly can. They should never be hidden away. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (5153)
• Calcutta, India
29 Sep
You have a lovely family!! Wishing you good health.
1 person likes this
