Many many years ago, he was the manager of Pascal's, then the largest
hardware store in Old Montreal - before Old Montreal was Old Montreal.
We were talking one day. And his thoughts turned to when he was a little boy in Poland
and his father was a diplomat.
The only time his father had for him was 15 minutes on a Sunday, when he received the dignitaries
who needed to consult with him.
Including the Cardinal of Poland.
15 minutes before his appointment, the little boy sat down in the waiting room, dressed meticulously
in his Sunday best.
And sitting beside him was the Cardinal of Poland, also in his Sunday best.
His appointment had been set after the appointment of the son of the diplomat,
but the Cardinal had also come early.
At the appointed time, the door opened, his father swept into the waiting room, nodded to the Cardinal
and motioned to his son to come inside his office.
15 minutes were his son's. All his. And those 15 minutes were sacrosanct.
Not even the Cardinal of Poland could supersede him.
That moment in time nourished the manager of Pascal for a lifetime.
