Seen on My Walk, Part I

On Tuesday, despite my best intentions, I did not go for my walk. Too much cold rain for me! And the hail was the last straw. Yikes. But yesterday I just had to get out — we even had a bit of sunshine! — and here’s who I saw: 
  • a 30-something woman with two sweet little girls playing on their driveway;
  • a mail carrier getting something out of the back of her truck;
  • our good friend Ellen and her three-year-old son, who came out onto their driveway to see us when I called to say that Carl and I were outside (thanks again, friends!);
  • an older man with a cane, who was bringing out his yard debris can;
  • a family — dad, mom, dog, and two darling children — out for a walk; 
  • a couple bringing out their yard debris can;
  • and a young family — mom, dad, and baby in stroller — out enjoying the mild weather.

We do get regular walkers around here, but I haven't seen this many people on my route anytime lately. What a difference a day — and a stay home order from the governor — can make! Except for Ellen and Tommy, all of these people were strangers to Carl and me. But here’s what else they had in common: each and every one of the adults gave us a huge hug. They did! And we hugged them back. Remember the sidewalk chalk photo last weekend? 



I get that this is Portland. And we do live in a sort of “urban farm” area. People mostly say hi to each other here. But this was different. These were intentional eye gazes as we approached. We all slowed down or stopped as we neared each other. We asked each other “how are you doing?,” and we really listened to the responses. Our smiles were not the usual quick ones. Faces lit up, and we smiled more as we wished each other well.

There was connection in every encounter.

Carl thanked the mail carrier for staying on the job. She paused in her work to say, “you’re welcome,” and to tell us to be sure to stay healthy. I told the man with the cane that I used to throw his newspapers up into his yard, but that I’d stopped doing so because of the virus. “So that was you!,” he exclaimed as he gave us a big grin. After Carl left to head home by a different route, I saw the family with the dog heading down a hill toward me. I started to cross the road, but then I saw the dad, who was in the lead, guide his dog into a driveway and step away from my path. “I take that personally,” I told him as I went by. “Thank you very much.” He smiled that smile and said, “I’m trying.” I know he is. So many, many people are trying not only to stay safe, to stay calm, and to get exercise, but to protect others, including strangers, from harm. And they’re doing it with a consistent openness that I have never seen. It’s as if all of us were trying to welcome each other into the community. Maybe that is exactly what we’re doing.

I mentioned yesterday that I believe that a stranger is just a friend we haven’t met. And I talked about reaching out to strangers from behind our walls as we shelter at home. Then we took our walk, and we met the strangers in person. Sure enough, they were all just friends we hadn’t yet met. To these new friends, and to each of you, I offer a wish for good health, a peaceful heart, a calm mind, and deep joy.

Until tomorrow,
Love from Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma


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