Strangers

I live quietly.  I like it that way.  I enjoy the interactions with my Monday Tai Chi class.  One hour of exercise followed by gathering at a local cafe for lunch.  A cheerful bunch of women. 

When I go to the gym on Wednesdays, I enjoy my session more if one of two favourite young people are on the desk.  Those two remember my name, give broad smiles and like to share a laugh.

I look forward to stretching with Lu on Fridays.  We chat and laugh as she puts me through my stretches.

So I have a few regular activities that give me interactions with other adults.  But my day is made when there's a totally unexpected connection with a stranger.  

Like last Tuesday.  I was going to a movie theatre that I haven't attended for quite some time.  I drove past and around the corner before I realised I'd been in the right street, so it was once more around the block before finding a park. Pretty good going for me.  I walked up the street past a tall scruffy youth with his grubby red back to front baseball cap, slouching on a plant box clutching his skate board.  Looked a bit sullen and morose.  

While I was noticing the lad I wasn't noticing where I was going and got to the corner all befuddled.  I hadn't found the theatre.  Turned around and went back to where I thought it should be.  No theatre.  Hmmm.  

It was after 5.30 pm but a young lady was decorating a shop window with the shop door ajar so I stuck my head in and asked for her help, telling her with my best nice old lady chuckle that I couldn't remember where the theatre was.  I got no further before she rushed to my side with a big smile, lead me outside and pointed that is was right next door.  The entrance was right in front of the lazing youth.  Last time I was there a food court had been there, now there is a narrow corridor leading to stairs up to the theatre.  I thanked the lass, telling her to stay young as long as she could because getting old is a real bugger. 

The idle youth became interested and when I came level with him remarked that he's done the same thing, walked right past the entrance and he was only 18.  I actually looked at him this time and he was smiling broadly and kindly.  He added there was a lift near the stairs if I didn't want to climb the stairs and did I want him to help me?  No, he wasn't taking the, um, Michael.

I felt like giving him a hug and apologising for my assumptions.  How wrong had I been?  Shame on me.  

Shame is always easier to handle if you have someone to share it with.  Read that somewhere, can't remember where.