 |
| Image taken during my travels. |
I really had no plans when I walked into Walmart and I wasn’t in a time crunch, so I decided to just take my time and discover what new or clearance items this Walmart had to offer. While slowly walking around I found myself in the aisle where Walmart sells microwaves, when a stranger made himself known to me. Out of 100 to 1000 customers that visit Walmart on an hourly basis, can you imagine a stranger just lifting his head from his task of looking for a new microwave and giving you a soft friendly smile?
This male stranger was in one of those motor karts that Walmart has for disabled customers to use while they are shopping. But at this moment I didn’t focus on the motor kart, I focused on the man in the motor kart. To be honest and with some reflection now, I focused on the man’s eyes. They were so blue; it was like looking out into a calming blue ocean or a cloudless blue sky. So beautiful. These blue eyes were surrounded by Caucasian skin weathered by time, age, and experience. I was so focused on the man’s eyes that I didn’t even have time to register or be curious about his heritage. To be honest, that stuff doesn't really matter to me. What really mattered to me and kept me glued in that moment, was the man’s personality. He took the first bold step in chatting with a perfect stranger.
Yes, the brief conversation started when he needed help or an opinion while looking for a microwave. I do own a microwave, but when I picked mine, I was basically clueless as to the many types and functions that one microwave could have. And this man wanted a microwave that was big, deep, and had an air fryer function. I was like an air fryer; I was like a clueless deer looking at headlights. But because of his welcoming personality, I decided to stay in his presence and attempt to help him with his choices.
Mind you, if this man was on the phone and loudly having a rude or mean conversation with someone, I surely would have walked away. Mind you, if this man kept silent and kept looking at microwaves, I probably would have silently walked on by and missed those blue eyes. Mind you, if this man was being rude or cursing the people around him, I probably would have turned and took the next two aisle just to avoid him and never had the opportunity to have a brief conversation. However, he didn’t do any of these bad behaviors that would keep strangers as strangers.
While helping this old man look for a microwave we briefly talked about the following: family life, military branch, and opinion about Houston, TX. About family life, I learned that he has a daughter. And he learned that I had a child. In his soft manner he asked about my marital status, and I told him I was divorced. He was surprised by that answer, and he looked me over before he asked, why? I briefly told him; I didn’t cause the divorce. Then we moved on and discussed the military branch. He shared with me that he served in the Navy and his daughter was a Marine, and I shared that I was in the Army. When he asked where I lived, I said Houston and for some reason he didn’t like that. His reaction made me smile. As a response, I told him I am new to the area and still getting used to my surroundings. Our conversation was coming to an end when one of the Walmart Associates finally came by to assist this nice old man in choosing a new microwave. As we parted ways, this old man said, “Stay Good.” And with a smile I respond back “there is no harm in looking for a little trouble.”
And my smile stayed with me while I continued my shopping. My smile stayed with me while I paid for my items. My smile stayed with me while on the drive home. And this same smile stayed with me while sitting at my computer and typing these words. And I believe this smile and this moment will stay with me for a little while longer.
So, I ask you, those that are reading these words, what is your brief moment with a stranger and what reaction or impression did it leave you? Feel free to share.
