Last week was traveling week for me and I had a very uneventful trip to and from Ohio unlike the week prior when I tried to get to Chicago. Now that was a disaster from almost the first mile. Thankfully my time traveling to see my mom was easy and fun and I encountered a couple of interesting things along the way.
When I was in the waiting area at Minneapolis St. Paul airport I sat amongst a bunch of Target employees. They were having several lively discussions and were definitely having a good time as they waited. One young man sitting across from me was trying to take a head count of who was there and who wasn’t and stated loudly “Wait—we are missing Beth Ann!” I looked up from my Kindle and quipped “No you aren’t! I’m right here!”. He just looked at me. I haven’t met many Beth Ann’s in my life and it made me smile to think that there was another one going to be on the plane with me. We had a little conversation about that and then the Target Beth Ann walked up. The group all introduced her to me and she sat down next to me and we struck up a nice little conversation. The funny thing was that she was the younger version of me that day since we were both sporting jean jackets (even though my oldest son is not a fan of them I still wear them because they are fabulous especially for travel). When I left to board the plane before their zone was called the entire Target team said “Goodbye Beth Ann! Safe travels”. Fun.
Fast forward to Chippewa, Pennsylvania a few hours later. I stopped at the local Walmart (oh I know –but it was convenient) to pick up a few things after I landed in Pittsburgh to take to my mom’s house to cook a few meals while I was there. I had planned to make a shopping list on the plane but didn’t so I had my printed out recipes in hand and was standing in the canned vegetable aisle taking a gander at what I still needed to get into my shopping cart. I must have had a puzzled look on my face or something because a lovely lady stopped and commented that I must have quite a list or something. I joked that I was just trying to figure out what I actually needed since I had not made the list and was trying to figure out what was left from the recipe list. A conversation ensued and she found out I was going to see my mom for a bit and that I was planning to stock her freezer while I was there with easy meals she could just take out and cook without much fuss.
As the conversation continued she asked me where I was from and when I told her Iowa she got a funny look on her face and asked specifically where. When I responded with “Mason City” she just looked at me and stated that SHE was from Mason City! What are the chances that the ONE person I actually had a conversation with in Walmart was from the town where I am currently living? A zillion to one? While I do not actually know most of the people she mentioned I had heard of a lot of them because she knew a lot of folks who work for Hospice where I volunteer. Small world???? Yes. Very.
I think it is experiences like these that make me realize that not only is it a very small world at times it is also important to look for those opportunities to “find the extraordinary in the ordinary”. A simple trip grocery shopping left me with a marvelous story and a lovely conversation with a very lovely woman. When I allow myself the chance to engage with someone and have a conversation and not be so focused on “me” I open myself up to some wonderful experiences.
Do you have an experience that could have been an ordinary one that suddenly turned memorable because you opened yourself up to a simple conversation? I would love for you to share with us in the comments.
Next week is going to be special on It’s Just Life. I am going to have a post every single day featuring one of My Favorite Things. The best part is that each day there will be a giveaway for that same item! Don’t miss a single day. All it will require is a comment and that means a comment for Bridges Mentoring as well as a chance to win a fun item! Come back every single day and don’t forget to share with your friends.
