Random Conversations
Everybody has a story about their life and today while in a waiting a waiting room I heard several. Some were told directly to me and others I overheard mostly from cell phone conversations. It never ceases to amaze me how loudly folks talk on cell phones in public and private.
I was sitting just waiting for my turn. One woman was chatting with another about her life. One was probably a decade older then the other. The story teller was probably mid 50's and had long black shoulder length braids which reminded me of how my mom used to comb my hair when I was young. She only had on light pink lipstick and as far as I could tell no other traces of make up. She sat across from the listener who was from another country and spoke 5 languages fluently and had lived in 3 countries before coming to the United States 10 years ago. Her oldest child was 30 and her youngest 5 years old. I found that fascinating since this woman didn't look a day over 40. So, I thought she must be older then the story teller. I had it wrong. The story teller said she was homeless for a while living on the streets and most people she encountered while living on the streets were not nice people. She told her stories of abuse, rape and how motherhood didn't change her for the better when she had her first baby as a very young adult. She said she had this little one with absolutely no mothering instincts she just wanted her life back the way it was. She was too young and too immature to be a mom but she laid down with someone she hardly knew and a few months later she found out she was pregnant. They married briefly and after a year were divorced.
The listener chimmed in and said she had 8 kids. Four were grown and four weren't. Her husband left her soon after her last baby was born. She told happy stories about her kids and her country and sad stories too. But, she said she's grateful for her kids and to be a new citizen of the USA.
The next conversation was between a young mother and a grandmother who was taking care of her 6 month old granddaughter whom she affectionately called Peep. The young mom said she hadn't had a planned pregnancy and her boyfriend figured out she was pregnant before she did. The grandmother found it funny and laughed a hearty laugh that filled the room. The young mom laughed too and went on about how hard raising a baby is but she loved it and her boyfriend proposed to her last week. But, she said she wanted to wait a while before marriage since she's only known him for a year. The grandmother seemed pleased about her decision to wait. The grandmother's name was called and off she went pushing her granddaughter in the huge brown stroller.
Another woman was fanning herself and said to me she was going through menopause and was trying to get through that hot flash she was having. She flipped a piece of her apple red hair from her face and pulled it back into a ponytail to get it off her neck. She said she was having bad hot flashes all day. I told her I knew exactly how she was feeling. We laughed together and chatted about hot flashes and weight gain and dollar store bought fans which we each have.
Today was a day of conversations. And a day of bonding with strangers. And the best part was there was a cool breeze blowing when I walked outside again.
I was sitting just waiting for my turn. One woman was chatting with another about her life. One was probably a decade older then the other. The story teller was probably mid 50's and had long black shoulder length braids which reminded me of how my mom used to comb my hair when I was young. She only had on light pink lipstick and as far as I could tell no other traces of make up. She sat across from the listener who was from another country and spoke 5 languages fluently and had lived in 3 countries before coming to the United States 10 years ago. Her oldest child was 30 and her youngest 5 years old. I found that fascinating since this woman didn't look a day over 40. So, I thought she must be older then the story teller. I had it wrong. The story teller said she was homeless for a while living on the streets and most people she encountered while living on the streets were not nice people. She told her stories of abuse, rape and how motherhood didn't change her for the better when she had her first baby as a very young adult. She said she had this little one with absolutely no mothering instincts she just wanted her life back the way it was. She was too young and too immature to be a mom but she laid down with someone she hardly knew and a few months later she found out she was pregnant. They married briefly and after a year were divorced.
The listener chimmed in and said she had 8 kids. Four were grown and four weren't. Her husband left her soon after her last baby was born. She told happy stories about her kids and her country and sad stories too. But, she said she's grateful for her kids and to be a new citizen of the USA.
The next conversation was between a young mother and a grandmother who was taking care of her 6 month old granddaughter whom she affectionately called Peep. The young mom said she hadn't had a planned pregnancy and her boyfriend figured out she was pregnant before she did. The grandmother found it funny and laughed a hearty laugh that filled the room. The young mom laughed too and went on about how hard raising a baby is but she loved it and her boyfriend proposed to her last week. But, she said she wanted to wait a while before marriage since she's only known him for a year. The grandmother seemed pleased about her decision to wait. The grandmother's name was called and off she went pushing her granddaughter in the huge brown stroller.
Another woman was fanning herself and said to me she was going through menopause and was trying to get through that hot flash she was having. She flipped a piece of her apple red hair from her face and pulled it back into a ponytail to get it off her neck. She said she was having bad hot flashes all day. I told her I knew exactly how she was feeling. We laughed together and chatted about hot flashes and weight gain and dollar store bought fans which we each have.
Today was a day of conversations. And a day of bonding with strangers. And the best part was there was a cool breeze blowing when I walked outside again.
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