Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Table for one


Setting
San Francisco, CA, March 2007 [Click to enlarge]

The scene: a chic Vietnamese restaurant near our hotel. Our group - better known as Team Canada - has come here for dinner after a successful day of learning how technology can turn small businesses into supercharged small businesses.

The conversation flows boisterously fast as this group of frighteningly high achievers debriefs from the day that was and chats about pretty much everything else under the sun. A good time is clearly being had by all as the server, quite possibly the best customer service-focused individual any of us has ever met, ensures that every last aspect of our evening is this close to perfect.

Before long, we're the last table left in the place. I notice the empty tables that surround ours, their perfectly arranged place settings casting perfect shadows under a seemingly perfect bright white light. It's the kind of micro-scene that begs to be remembered, because perfection isn't always framed so neatly and moments like this don't seem to happen as often as we'd like.

Your turn: A moment that made you reflect on the goodness around you. Please discuss.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

How long are you in SFO? I'll be in Silicon Valley next week - Sunnyvale to be specific, from Monday afternoon onwards.

CynAnn said...

You know I love Asian restaurants for their simplistic beauty.

CynAnn said...

I love Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants for their simplistic beauty and wonderful cuisine.

Anna said...

The first thing I noticed in this shot was the shadows. I love how in Asian restaurants that the lines are normally to clean and crisp. Adding a shadow only makes it more interesting to me.

Great capture Carmi.

A moment...hhhhmmmm....

Because it is the closest in my memory, my post the day before yesterday of my youngest bringing me flowers. It was so sweet and made me quite thankful of Gods goodness to me through my children and how they love me so well.

This is just one of countless times.

BTW, I havent had good Chinese or Japanese food since I have meoved here...this is making me want it even more! :) YUM.

awareness said...

elegant and simplistic.

I can't help thinking about the direct contrast of elegance in this pic and the despair in your pic of the homeless guy. Our world is so complicated in it's range of need vs abundance.

Sara said...

I must admit the homeless beggers who sit outside the ATM machine or the supermarkets always make me feel appreciative of the goodness in my life. The other day there was a girl who was sitting outside in the cold rain crying with 2 black eyes . . . made me very thankful of everything & everyone I have around me!!

talj said...

A nicely composed image Carmi!

A moment...

Everyday that I get to see my friends makes me appreciate the simple, but good things in my life. Just wish I could do it more often!

Lee Ann said...

There is something warm and good about the time I was walking my boyfriend's Golden Retriever puppy (Missy). I was in a bit of a hurry, walking her and trying to get back to finish cooking dinner. She was being her "normal" self sniffing at every tree and every other blade of grass. I started voice-prodding her..."come on Missy, let's do it...come on Missy, find your spot and let's go"...etc. Feeling a little frustrated, I stood there watching her then told her to sit. I figured if I could talk to her she would speed things up. So as I talked to her in a calm and (what I thought) a very convincing voice, she just looked into my eyes with those warm big brown eyes. Then I said "ok, go!" She was back at it....sniffing sniffing sniffing, until she caught a glimpse of a butterfly. She cocked her head to one side and skampered after it. It was then it struck me...this is a good and warm moment. A happy puppy in nature, just enjoying herself and being outside with me. I gave her a big hug and walked with her for a while longer, not caring about the time. Goodness, pure goodness!
Have a great weekend Carmi!
~xo

Midori said...

Hi from Michele`s! I took a bit of a break from blogging so haven`t done the M+G thing for a while!! Happy Easter!!

Jeremy Lavine said...

Nothing like a hot plate of Chicken with Brocoli over transistors!

Anonymous said...

Nice shot Carmi, most people miss those fine details. Perfect moment for me? Anytime I can, late at night I can walk out our door in the summer and see the stars. Especially a week a night when there is no traffic and you cal lay in the middle of the road and watch for shooting stars.

Cheers,

P.

Thumper said...

The thing that jumps to my mind as true goodness that I've seen lately: a little kid in McD's, offering me his nickel so I could buy food instead of just the soda I'd ordered. An offer like that from a kid that age only comes from good...while I think there's a lot of it in this world, it's nice to see it in action.

kenju said...

That shot has an elegance about it, Carmi.

Seeing spring and blooming trees and flowers all around me this week made me reflect on the goodness around me. My neighbor's yard is so beautiful now. I will post photos of it next week.

Cloudia said...

Ah! The Moment- the NOW. Yes.

Good Pesach, Cousin