Between the Sun and a King

Breaking bread with Elio and Ryan

Stops I made tonight along Brand Boulevard before heading to Target inside the Glendale Galleria: the peace vigil at the corner of Broadway, Brand Bookshop, and The Coffee Bean at The Americana.

I was finishing my small coffee as I looked through the pictures I had taken along Brand when a young man walked up to my table and offered me some of the panettone bread he was having with his friend, who was celebrating his birthday. I accepted and wished the elder man a Happy Birthday as he served me a slice. They invited me to join them but I declined and thanked both gentlemen before heading back to my table.

I realized I really wasn't happy with any of the pictures I had taken and returned to the two friends and asked them if I could take their picture. They kindly obliged. I introduced myself to the young man who approached me, Ryan, and to Elio, the birthday boy. Elio served me another slice of the panettone, which was delicious with my coffee, as he shared the orgin and meaning of his name: Elio, from the Greek, helios, meaning "sun".

For a brief moment I was part of a celebration with two people I had met just minutes before. I shared how I had restarted my photo blog--glimpses of mostly Glendale--and invited them to visit my page. I would've liked to offered more to the two kind men who had shared their bread with this unemployed stranger. I could only thank them and wished Elio a Happy Birthday.

A random moment, perhaps. But as I walked out into the night, leaving the Disneyland-like Americana, and passed the now year-round white lights along Brand Boulevard, I couldn't help but feel blessed. Blessed for experiencing generosity and community when (and where) you least expect it ...