Paying it forward
A person who has read my columns weekly and knows of my connection with Sri Lanka contacted me asking for information about her visiting Sri Lanka to see the Asian elephants. She has travel around Africa and saw plenty of African elephants and is curious to see Asian elephants and the Sri Lankan people.
My info on the national parks where the Sri Lanka elephants roam is a bit outdated, so I sent out messages to trusted Sri Lanka friends to learn how the situation is now.
Each response back was something similar to this: “Please let me know when your friend is coming. Will help her along. Do give her my number, it’s always good to have a local contact.” And, “Let me know if you need me to help, if you need me to get your friend tour assistance.” And, “Please contact me and Mr. H. so we can both help your friend. Thanks.”
My friends have been so helpful and so willing to give my “new” friend help with whatever she may need. It made me tear up. Made me miss them and wonder if I’ll ever get back there to see them.
They also gave me information on where best to see elephants in the wild. One place that I really loved was the elephants in Udawalawe National Park. Our guide there was respectful of the magnificent animals who came close to our Jeep. It was the first time I heard them rumble. I thought it was them warning us, but then I realized it was their way of communicating to each other. It was friendly. I have been forever since protective of them and in love with them.
As my wedding photography in Sri Lanka grew, my photo partner and I decided to never take photos of couples wanting to use elephants in their wedding pictures. One wedding brought the couple on the back of an elephant handled by a mahout (elephant handler) who was drunk and the elephant was in chains. I could barely photograph them because I was crying. That was the end of us taking photos of elephants in chains.
Over time elephants have been used and abused in all countries for labor and tourism. Just being one person, I can’t cure the situation, but I could stop promoting using elephants for wedding photos and didn’t care if we lost business because of it.
I now daily follow and promote the amazing work of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/), a nonprofit organization who are pioneers in the rescue and raising of orphaned elephants and rhinos in Kenya. Their work certainly lifts my spirits, and to watch the baby elephants and their antics is just the best!
On my latest visit to Santa Rosa for another (and hopefully final) procedure on my back, my friend Mabel drove me, as usual. When arriving at the surgery center we drove up a long hill and saw a woman struggling to walk the steep grade. Mabel left me in the car and walked down to assist the woman. Turns out the woman was severely disorientated and couldn’t find her car. She didn’t know what brand her car was. She’d been walking up and down streets trying to find it. It was 2:30 p.m. and hot. Mabel saw from her car keys the car was a Toyota. The woman said it was white. She had dropped off a friend and couldn’t remember where or who. Mabel walked with her and eventually found her car and her friend.
The woman asked Mabel, “Why are you doing this?”
“Because you looked like you could use some help,” said Mabel.
Helping others without any reason and giving without the expectation of receiving anything in return is what Mabel is all about. I never asked her to help me when my back became unbearable, she just helped. She has been there for me, along with her husband Bart and the friends I’ve made along my journey.
What’s a girl to do?…pay kindness forward. Always.