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The Reason Why...
16 years ago
FrostWolf posted a picture entitled "The Reason Why" http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1539470/ with which I totally agree. And this story is another one of my own "reasons why".
On Thursday I was working 9am to 1pm. The chief pharmacist (Sonya) should be leaving the pharmacy soon (in a few weeks I think), after over 20 years. Why? Because she feels like she's not appreciated enough for her efforts (long story short, I won't enter the details, this is not the point). It's hard on her leaving a place with so many memories. There are probably other things going on in her life as well which I don't need to know about. But I know things have been rough on her. Specially lately, I've noticed.
Anyways, on Thursday morning Sonya seemed actually pretty lively and was even laughing and joking a bit more than usual. Looking back I should've seen that as a red flag, but at the moment it warmed my heart and I just felt happy for her. I hate to see her go but if it's going to make her happier, I'm all for it.
As 1pm was drawing near, I can't tell why but I had this growing urge to fursuit. I told a few people I might come back with my suit after work, depending on how I felt once at home (because since I travel by bus, when I leave work at 1pm, I'm not home before 1h45 and I haven't eaten since breakfast at 7am...) but I had this feeling I MUST come back in suit.
So I get home, pack Ataksak my Caribou, grab a liquid meal replacement to drink on the bus ride back to the pharmacy and jump right back into the bus through the snow and rain. I reach the pharmacy, get right to the locker room and change into Ataksak with no one seeing me and go out into the store to cheer people up.
I'm having fun and all, but I can't seem to find Sonya... And I'm sure she was suppose to be there... And then someone tells me she's upstairs in the office, she's "unwell" and not to go disturb her, that she's being taken care of.
My heart sank because I know Sonya's been having blood pressure issues lately... But another very sweet pharmacist, Thao, takes me apart and tells me "I think you should go up to see Sonya. I think it'd do her good." and I can read in Thao's eyes what is going on. Sonya is not having a physical issue as much as an emotional issue...
So I head right up as fast as my hooves can carry me.
Sonya's face lights up a bit as she sees me. She's always loved my costumes, specially Philomène, but it's the first time she sees Ataksak in person. However I can tell she's fighting back tears and trying real hard to hold up her dignity. But there's no reason for that in front of a big plushy Caribou... So I do what I do best and take her in my arms and she grasps me in hers.
That hug was so true, so sincere, so instinctive... She grabbed a handful of fur in my back and held it so tightly... You know like little babies grab and squeeze hair and anything that gets into their hands? It's such a firm and child-like gesture... And Sonya bursts into tears in the fluff of my neck. And I rub her back with my hoof and hold her back for long long minutes, until I feel her grasps loosening, her need to be held fading.
And Martine, who's been in the office with Sonya to comfort her and take care of her, bursts into tears as well at the sight. So I go over and hug her too.
I clown a bit, we laugh, I show details of my suit because I know Sonya loves to find out all about the little secrets of the trade. Then Sonya says timidly "You know Rachel, you're... I mean I... I appreciate you really much..." and her clumsiness with words is just even more adorable. So I mime that I lover her back and hug her again before I leave.
I think Ataksak really made a difference for Sonya that day. There's no need to keep up the barriers and strong appearance when you're hugging a big plushy Caribou. So she was able to let it all go and I'm sure it made her feel better afterward.
Besides, I was able to give back just a bit of all Sonya's done for me to help me in my fight against depression, and to prove her just how much her happiness is important to me. At least before she leaves.
It's funny that I didn't know Sonya would need me so badly that day... And yet I had the impression I really badly needed to kick my laziness aside and come back to the pharmacy with a suit to cheer someone up... And it sure cheered me up too, to be able to make such an impression on Sonya. I'll treasure that feeling of her grasp in my back for ages.
On Thursday I was working 9am to 1pm. The chief pharmacist (Sonya) should be leaving the pharmacy soon (in a few weeks I think), after over 20 years. Why? Because she feels like she's not appreciated enough for her efforts (long story short, I won't enter the details, this is not the point). It's hard on her leaving a place with so many memories. There are probably other things going on in her life as well which I don't need to know about. But I know things have been rough on her. Specially lately, I've noticed.
Anyways, on Thursday morning Sonya seemed actually pretty lively and was even laughing and joking a bit more than usual. Looking back I should've seen that as a red flag, but at the moment it warmed my heart and I just felt happy for her. I hate to see her go but if it's going to make her happier, I'm all for it.
As 1pm was drawing near, I can't tell why but I had this growing urge to fursuit. I told a few people I might come back with my suit after work, depending on how I felt once at home (because since I travel by bus, when I leave work at 1pm, I'm not home before 1h45 and I haven't eaten since breakfast at 7am...) but I had this feeling I MUST come back in suit.
So I get home, pack Ataksak my Caribou, grab a liquid meal replacement to drink on the bus ride back to the pharmacy and jump right back into the bus through the snow and rain. I reach the pharmacy, get right to the locker room and change into Ataksak with no one seeing me and go out into the store to cheer people up.
I'm having fun and all, but I can't seem to find Sonya... And I'm sure she was suppose to be there... And then someone tells me she's upstairs in the office, she's "unwell" and not to go disturb her, that she's being taken care of.
My heart sank because I know Sonya's been having blood pressure issues lately... But another very sweet pharmacist, Thao, takes me apart and tells me "I think you should go up to see Sonya. I think it'd do her good." and I can read in Thao's eyes what is going on. Sonya is not having a physical issue as much as an emotional issue...
So I head right up as fast as my hooves can carry me.
Sonya's face lights up a bit as she sees me. She's always loved my costumes, specially Philomène, but it's the first time she sees Ataksak in person. However I can tell she's fighting back tears and trying real hard to hold up her dignity. But there's no reason for that in front of a big plushy Caribou... So I do what I do best and take her in my arms and she grasps me in hers.
That hug was so true, so sincere, so instinctive... She grabbed a handful of fur in my back and held it so tightly... You know like little babies grab and squeeze hair and anything that gets into their hands? It's such a firm and child-like gesture... And Sonya bursts into tears in the fluff of my neck. And I rub her back with my hoof and hold her back for long long minutes, until I feel her grasps loosening, her need to be held fading.
And Martine, who's been in the office with Sonya to comfort her and take care of her, bursts into tears as well at the sight. So I go over and hug her too.
I clown a bit, we laugh, I show details of my suit because I know Sonya loves to find out all about the little secrets of the trade. Then Sonya says timidly "You know Rachel, you're... I mean I... I appreciate you really much..." and her clumsiness with words is just even more adorable. So I mime that I lover her back and hug her again before I leave.
I think Ataksak really made a difference for Sonya that day. There's no need to keep up the barriers and strong appearance when you're hugging a big plushy Caribou. So she was able to let it all go and I'm sure it made her feel better afterward.
Besides, I was able to give back just a bit of all Sonya's done for me to help me in my fight against depression, and to prove her just how much her happiness is important to me. At least before she leaves.
It's funny that I didn't know Sonya would need me so badly that day... And yet I had the impression I really badly needed to kick my laziness aside and come back to the pharmacy with a suit to cheer someone up... And it sure cheered me up too, to be able to make such an impression on Sonya. I'll treasure that feeling of her grasp in my back for ages.
Same reason I'll drive hundreds of miles and set up Lionel trolleys at a train show. Just to see the smiles on the children's faces as they drive a trolley for the first time...
( je vais écrire en français pour diverse raisons )
J'ai eu un petit poid sur le coeur en lisant cela, c'est vraiment touchant ( journal et la photo ).
Je trouve que cette ermm utilisation du fursuit est vraiment noble sur cette aspect et chapeau pour cela.
I just happen to be someone who enjoys both doing and seeing anthro and animal art, including costume building, which also happens to enjoy cheering people up by mascotting.
It's a story that NEEDED to be shared. Glad it gave you a fuzzy feeling.
When you are in a normal environment, it matters very little. Just being there is enough to bring smiles and happiness to the lives of others :).
You did a very nice thing and you have my salute ^^