Connections
I was at South Station in Boston the other day. Why I was there is unimportant but wanted to share a little story during this holiday season. There is a lot of travel this time of year and people whisk back and forth with backpacks and suitcases looking for their train or loved one.
A man sat next to me and we pleasantly shared a nod and passed the time in silence. He was a young fellow, 19 years old with a spittoon in hand clearly enjoying his chewing tobacco; the look of your stereotypical beach bum type. Another man comes by. He is much older, probably in his 50's. He had a weathered face and the look of a soul with many traumas...the look of war.
"Hey fella, do you have some weed?" He scratchily asks the young man. As an aside, maybe that should rise an eyebrow to have a question asked so publicly; but these days marijuana is decriminalized in Massachusetts. The young man replies, "No dude, I am on my way to catch a flight. They do not allow you to have that on airplanes" in a hippie-like tone...neither men were confrontational.
"Well do you have a cigarette then?"
"Yes."
"Can I sit down here?"
"Sure."
They exchanged pleasantries and had small talk. Names and travel destinations, requests for more cigarettes and offers of booze were made. "Do you have a girl friend?", the old man asks. The young man replies, "you know what, I'll tell you some crazy shit. My "girl" is sleeping with a Levi's model and that model is a she. Crazy huh?" The old man looks at him with a nod matched with the care of an older brother and chirped, "looks like you weren't fucking her right." "I know!" the kid confirms with a sense of proud certainty. "You have to practice" is the agreed course of action. Their conversation continued on for a bit. The Patriots, Randy Moss, San Quentin, Providence. Then they exchanges pleasantries once again and went their separate ways.
Upon reflecting on this conversation, I thought why do we speak to total strangers? Why do we feel comfortable with sharing intimate details of our lives like one night stands? Is it a gift; a gift to share oneself and to receive friendship albeit brief and more than likely singular? When we do not, are we that self-focused that we can not spare a moment of sharing? Nevertheless, I can say that they each gave one another something to share with someone else that day.
Something I did not tell you. On my travel to South Station, I was listening to a story about a woman, 32 years. It was just a month after her wedding and she was diagnosed with painful multiple sclerosis. She was miserable; no treatment made her feel better. Until, she started giving to others. Just little things at first. She then gave more, for about a month. This woman said it was the giving that brought her back. It gave her better health and happiness. Just remember that during this season, gifts do not have to be material. They can be large or small acts of kindness. It can be a phone call, letting someone into traffic, or sitting in a transportation terminal and talking to someone. You just might make a person's day.
Happy Holidays!
A man sat next to me and we pleasantly shared a nod and passed the time in silence. He was a young fellow, 19 years old with a spittoon in hand clearly enjoying his chewing tobacco; the look of your stereotypical beach bum type. Another man comes by. He is much older, probably in his 50's. He had a weathered face and the look of a soul with many traumas...the look of war.
"Hey fella, do you have some weed?" He scratchily asks the young man. As an aside, maybe that should rise an eyebrow to have a question asked so publicly; but these days marijuana is decriminalized in Massachusetts. The young man replies, "No dude, I am on my way to catch a flight. They do not allow you to have that on airplanes" in a hippie-like tone...neither men were confrontational.
"Well do you have a cigarette then?"
"Yes."
"Can I sit down here?"
"Sure."
They exchanged pleasantries and had small talk. Names and travel destinations, requests for more cigarettes and offers of booze were made. "Do you have a girl friend?", the old man asks. The young man replies, "you know what, I'll tell you some crazy shit. My "girl" is sleeping with a Levi's model and that model is a she. Crazy huh?" The old man looks at him with a nod matched with the care of an older brother and chirped, "looks like you weren't fucking her right." "I know!" the kid confirms with a sense of proud certainty. "You have to practice" is the agreed course of action. Their conversation continued on for a bit. The Patriots, Randy Moss, San Quentin, Providence. Then they exchanges pleasantries once again and went their separate ways.
Upon reflecting on this conversation, I thought why do we speak to total strangers? Why do we feel comfortable with sharing intimate details of our lives like one night stands? Is it a gift; a gift to share oneself and to receive friendship albeit brief and more than likely singular? When we do not, are we that self-focused that we can not spare a moment of sharing? Nevertheless, I can say that they each gave one another something to share with someone else that day.
Something I did not tell you. On my travel to South Station, I was listening to a story about a woman, 32 years. It was just a month after her wedding and she was diagnosed with painful multiple sclerosis. She was miserable; no treatment made her feel better. Until, she started giving to others. Just little things at first. She then gave more, for about a month. This woman said it was the giving that brought her back. It gave her better health and happiness. Just remember that during this season, gifts do not have to be material. They can be large or small acts of kindness. It can be a phone call, letting someone into traffic, or sitting in a transportation terminal and talking to someone. You just might make a person's day.
Happy Holidays!
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