Please note: This post is about my friend Chris but he didn’t want me to take his picture. So I included one of his brother instead.

***

It’s no small thing changing countries. I’ve needed generous people to help me. Such as my immigration lawyer Amira. Without her I’d be talking to you from Toronto, Canada.

And then there’s Chris. In December, 2022 he and I were at the same Christmas party near Oudenaarde. I knew him a bit.

I had been back and forth between Canada and Belgium, doing what was needed to set up my apartment in Gent. My visa had been approved! Soon I had to return to Canada, surrender my passport and wait until the visa had been attached and the passport mailed back to me in Canada. Then I could fly to Europe … no longer a tourist.

IKEA furniture had arrived but I couldn’t figure out some of the instructions for assembly. More crucially, I had bought an old bed for my guest room that had a bowed wire mesh structure holding the mattress. Unsleepable. I’d bought a modern support system that looked like Venetian blinds but the old and young looked incompatible to my virgin eyes.

As we sat in the living room at the party, I asked “Does anyone know someone who can help me fix things in my apartment?”

Chris spoke up immediately:

“I do. Me.”

I stared for a few seconds. “Thank you.”

And so it began. Someone I barely knew invested hours of visits to help me. Such a big soul. He was a YES … untouched by being busy, having future complications, or becoming tired of helping. Just a soft nod of the head. A “you can count on me” commitment.

And so I am blessed. Others have also stepped forward in kindness … supporting me when I’m weak, celebrating when I’m strong.

Thank you, Chris

Thank you, everyone