A panacea - 2/26

I get teased sometimes for not being over-the-top. I think a lot of life is really good, but it takes something pretty phenomenal to be great. Wow, I sure found it today in the old city. I’m not really sure what the tipping point was, perhaps if the components had been divorced from one another, they would have all just been really good? The welcome of the people, combined with the architecture of the old city (even a mosque that was started by Mohammed himself), and the unique markets it hid within did not combine with the children. I’d read in a guidebook that the kids like to see their photos and like in many places, are excited to have them taken. What an incredible cure I discovered. I would pit the worst case of depression against the excitement, laughter, amazement, and joy that the children experienced when you turned the camera around and shared the picture back with them. I had a good day, and I didn’t want to stop. My team kept calling for me to catch up! The kid’s enthusiasm was contagious and it was truly a great experience. I know depression is about more than a mood, but I would bet these kids could realign someone’s chemical make-up with just a few minutes and a digital camera! I hope to be able to bring such joy to people again before I die. It seemed like a once in a lifetime experience.