Whenever I went away on holiday, I’d bring back something for then-landlord and landlady, Fred and Nora: chocolate from Switzerland, caviar from Sweden.
One day, Nora gave me a little bottle of red wine that she’d got free on her flight back from their timeshare in Portugal.
In my typical-Chinese-politeness way, I immediately protested, “Oh no, keep it for yourself!”
She said, “YOU are always giving people things. You must let people have a chance to give you something sometimes.” Yes, indeed.
Since then, I’d relate this story to people, especially when I’m giving them a free massage, and say, “Thank you for accepting my massage and making me feel useful.”
(London, 1980s onwards)
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