10 June 2010

Poolside Chat

I don't normally tell strangers personal information. Ryan barely knows what's going on in my head.  I was at the pool with the baby dill's, floating around with an occasional monkey clinging on my back when another family came--a grandma called Grinny accompanied by her two granddaughters.  I straightaway thought it a clever nickname.  One girl had black hair and the other a redhead.  They were a quiet pair with matching swimsuits, and began playing with my flock immediately.  They had sweet, thick southern accents.  Think Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird.  I began chatting with Grinny, already drawing the conclusion they weren't from here.  She confirmed my guess--Arkansas.  I'm not even sure exactly where Arkansas is.  Never been good at geography.  A 13 hour drive, rather than their annual 7 hour drive since the oil spill had slicked up their normal destination.  I got out of the pool shortly to work on my beading project [of course].  She followed a few minutes later, choosing a chair beside me instead of by her son and daughter-in-law who had arrived and were sitting on a different side of the pool.  She continued chatting with me, though the chatting had turned much deeper than normal poolside chats.  No longer weather and news.  Her beliefs, answered prayers, raising children, an adoption story guided by God's will, starting a charity to better her community and give the children there a bigger chance at becoming a someone able to follow dreams.  All this from a stranger.  I found myself sharing my thoughts and concerns about life with her, as though she was a dear friend or beloved aunt.  She tried to convince me to come visit her beautiful, peaceful place--Star City.  I felt myself wanting to be there, or having her as my next door neighbor, so I could run over and say, "Grinny, I have to tell you what Clover did today...."  and know that she truly cared what Clover did.  After getting too much sun and finishing my bracelet we said our good-byes.  They go home soon and we won't see them again, but I left thinking how grateful I was to know there are good people everywhere.  People who still care enough to make handmade prayer squares for those in the military, who work to improve their community, who do good things not for praise or flattery of the world.  


Makes me want to be a better person.

14 comments:

  1. loved your story.
    Grinny. What a great name!

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  2. I never think those kind of encounters are random. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. I'm sure she was just as enchanted with you. I love serendipity.

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  4. mmmmm. those conversations make my heart tingle and my spirit refreshed. kindred souls.

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  5. Southern folks are always so friendly I have found. As are the Canadians. Glad you had a fun moment with her.

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  6. i had a dream just like this last night; where i happened to be sitting on a bench at a playground next to the kindest stranger and when we opened our mouths we couldn't believe the similarities between our thoughts and opinions and dreams.

    nevermind that the someone was a man who tried to inappropriately hold my hand and begged me leave my husband and children and run away with him.

    (don't worry, i've already confessed the gender of the stranger and the nature of the dream to my husband. all is well.)

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  7. It's great to know that there are still good people in the world. What a great woman Grinny is. I agree we can all learn from her.
    Thanks for sharing. :)

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  8. I live in Arkansas!! Although I've never heard of Star City. And yes, there are great people here :) Love your blog and all the great sewing ideas, not to mention your precious girls!

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  9. I agree with mom, those interactions are never chance.
    She was lucky to interact with you!

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  10. I also agree that those interactions are not by chance. I have not doubt that she felt uplifted by you as well.

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  11. I think she was an angel (and agree with heather).

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  12. I love you. You make ADORABLE babies. I just spent my whole day getting inspired by your blog.

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  13. Enjoyed your story. An encounter with a simply good person makes the world seem smaller and more connected, doesn't it?

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  14. Small world! I live in Louisiana now, but at the end of college I spent a few months in Star City doing my student teaching. The ladies I worked with there were some of the sweetest and most wonderful teachers I could have hoped to meet. What a wonderful encounter you had with Grinny. Love that nickname. :-)

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Be a lamb & tell me what's on your mind.