I was sitting last night with some young people before a concert started.  About five of them, in their early 20’s I’d say.

It was easy, which made me so happy.  We were separated by age but not by spirit.

Our conversation roamed around our lives.  For awhile the topic was Ghent, about how our city is a pocket of delight within Belgium, about so many residents being open to each other, to life.

I asked them a skill-testing question: “When I took my first computer course in 1968, how big was the computer?”  Guesses included the size of a car, of a fridge …  Truth was that the beast took up most of a very large room.  Their eyes opened wide.

At one point, our words ventured into the mysterious process of peeing and pooping. I think that was a first for me.  Clearly my young friends knew and enjoyed each other.  I was thrilled to be included.

And then …

A quiet moment in my head led to …

My eyes opening wide

“We’ve been speaking English” 

(Spoken silently)

All this time, these women and men had let go of Dutch in favour of English.  Because I was in their midst.  Such quiet kindness.  Thank you, young ones.