A Tall Dark Stranger in Walgreens

I spotted him first in the vitamin and supplement aisle – I was wading through the gummy options when my search was interrupted with a comment from a friendly stranger- ‘none of them work anyway’ he glibly stated. That shifted my search and I gladly moved on to the candy aisle looking for some stocking stuffers. I’m not sure why but there no longer seem to be handbaskets available - so I joined the long line of shoppers with an armful of a variety of chocolate. The same tall dark stranger merged into the line behind me. Looking at my collection of confectionary treasure he once again offered an insight- ‘you’re going to get diabetes you know’. I explained that these goodies were not for me alone, they were indeed stocking stuffers. He went on to tell me how he had gained 20 pounds during the pandemic and was now working to lose it. No one would have noticed his confession under his tall frame and wool overcoat.

 Staring now at my place in line and the weary checker, I thought why is it that some folks are so friendly and others can barely offer a smile?  Could this young man have been an angel pointing me in the direction of improved health and reminding me of a warm and welcoming world? Here I was with graying roots, each strand of hair having a mind of its own, deepening marionette lines, Nordic socks sinking into my oversized Sketchers and not for a minute was he put off by my questionable radiance in the world. Have you noticed at times the tall, dark, handsome, young, polished, elite, well put together, designer, wealthy debutants, don’t necessarily have time for you in the Walgreens line? I think I have aged out of having that appeal-not young enough and not quite old enough to matter. But here he was with the fervor of being just another human-just one human talking to another without regard for age or wrinkles or hosiery. What if we all could share that same embrace? That human embrace without judgement- with a keen awareness that we are all just travelers on the same rocky road-some of us sparkling just beginning the journey, others wading through the resign of middle age, while others with odometers full and ready to turn -but no matter where we are on this great journey of life, all of our footprints are created with similar soles/souls.