Apples, Oranges, and Mangoes

One of the lessons from my childhood that has stayed with me comes from the owner of the summer camp I attended. He had a philosophy about apples and oranges, which he explained during a memorable experience in Algonquin Park. While portaging through the park, he had run out of stove fuel. Needing to be able to cook dinner in the rain, he came across another camper and asked to buy a small cylinder of propane.

The fellow camper refused any payment and said something that stuck with him: "We each have a basket. Sometimes you have apples, sometimes you have oranges. It’s always good to share what's in your basket, eventually you will get the apples or oranges you need later."

This philosophy of generosity and reciprocity has stayed with me throughout my life, and I reflected on it again after Black Lab Brewery’s first year in business. While I wasn’t directly involved in the construction, I spent a lot of time at the build site to keep things on schedule and often wandered around Leslieville looking for lunch. A convenient stop was the large grocery store just south of the brewery. Outside the main doors, there was a man who regularly asked for change, but his positivity stood out.

I rarely carry cash, so after seeing him a few times, I wanted to help in another way. One day, I asked, “Hey, I don’t have any change, but can I buy you lunch instead?”

“Sure! That would be great,” he said with a smile.

“I was thinking of grabbing a chicken sandwich. Would that work?”

“Uh, no, I’m vegetarian. But I love mangoes, and they have these great Greek salads.”

So I bought him a mango and a Greek pasta salad. When I handed them to him, his eyes lit up—he wasn’t expecting both. I introduced myself and shook his hand, noting the rough calluses. We exchanged names, and though I’m fairly certain his name was Ryan, I remember his dog’s name was Major.

Over the last few weeks of the project, I continued to buy him lunch whenever I could. Ryan worked the night shift nearby, spending his days begging and trying to find places to sleep. Occasionally, he would visit his parents outside the city to see the other dogs he loved but couldn’t take care of on his own.

Though I’ve returned to Black Lab many times, I haven’t run into Ryan or Major again. Wherever they are, I hope their basket is full of apples, oranges—and mangoes.