A Total Stranger, But Interesting!
There are people who enter my life, often very briefly, such as a clerk or a wait staff or a even a total stranger, that I will only see once in my lifetime who happens to be in the same place at the same time where I am “waiting” and for some reason the person feel compelled to share a part of themselves with me through initiating conversation.
Granted I’m intrigued enough that I listen, and while I don’t believe that I encourage it, I don’t usually discourage this behavior either.
Stories I’m told are ones I’ll normally share with my husband or siblings or children and 9 times out of ten their faces will reflect a combination “look” of amusement and disbelief as if I could make this stuff up. I find myself asking them “What?! Don’t people do this with you too?”
Chance Meetings
Let’s say I walk in to pay for gas you can bet your sweet bippy that I’ll return knowing more information about someone I just met inside than a fella oughta know for petrol purchase purposes. All I can figure is that people just want to get their story off of their chests, as if it’s their testimony.
Funnily enough I once met a lady, now considered a good friend, while standing in an annoyingly long line at a Wal-Mart in California. She had one item and I had one item. She turned around to me and said, “Who knew buying one road map would take me all day?!” Whole heartedly agreeing with her I confessed that I no longer thought I needed that Cool Whip which kept me in the line.
Her pronounced accent made me ask her, “What part of Minnesota are you from?” If any of you know any Eiken family members you have an idea of what I heard. To our delight she grew up less than 30 miles from where I was raised and it was a “meant to be fast friendship.” The next thing you know I am giving her my address and phone number and she and her husband joined us for Thanksgiving supper. We have stayed in touch ever since and they occasionally stop in when passing through our state but always send us a card at Thanksgiving.
Remember, this friendship began with two total strangers standing in line!
Thanksgiving Guest
Come to think of it, Thanksgiving seems to be a magnet for friendships where I’m concerned. One year a person I met while working for a rent-a-car business ended up not having a place to go for the holiday so I brought him home to mom and dad that year. He was from New Orleans and is back living there now. We hear from him every year at Thanksgiving. Quite a blessing.
A Ghost Story
Today a young man in his 20’s came to do pest control for our house. We do this quarterly to keep the lovely ants, spiders, rodents, etc., at bay and to do a termite inspection. In the first few minutes upon meeting he shares with me that he has children.
Later he returns to say he’s going to take care of the paperwork and that all looked good. At this point I believe the job is complete and that he is going to leave the bill on our door. I wish him a “very Happy Father’s Day weekend.” He smiled and thanked me for that.
I’m not sure what compelled me to ask him how many children he had, but this simple, seemingly innocent question on my part, lead to a series of stories, and forthcoming tales. I was tempted to encourage him to sit down and take part in a “let me put the coffee pot on” sort of chat. I didn’t, of course, put the coffee on that is, because I didn’t want to seem too interested. That being said, it certainly did not slow him down one little iota.
In less than an hour, while we stood in my kitchen, I learned that this young man had a wife a decade older than himself, two parents who left him before he was out of high school. That caused him to go live with another family on a chicken farm until he graduated high school.
He is the proud stepfather to a tween-ager going through a hormone surge (see attitude), as well as a toddler of his own. He seems to take the high road where the biological father of his stepchild is concerned. Sadly, his own father comes around or calls when it benefits said father.
He went on to say how once upon a time he was a ghost hunter. He owned this business for several years. Seriously, a real life “ghost buster!” (I did not make this up!)
Back when in business he’d be called to go in and help to see if these people were seeing what they thought they were seeing or hearing what they thought they were hearing. If at all possible, he would be remove them or if not then he’d pray in the house. More often than not he would hear first hand how these families would simply have to “co-exist” with the stubborn spirits.
When people share a bit of themselves it’s best to keep a poker face, and avoid the mouth from hanging open in shock. If possible, its polite to offer a courtesy nod while listening.
He shared how he occasionally will see people (spirits) in civil war garb, how toys would move on the perfectly level floor in someone’s home, and how the “ghosts” would either be menacing or curious and were often very disruptive.
I asked if he believed in some of the shows such as Long Island Medium. He cocked his head and replied “I don’t know… I really don’t. I mean, do they talk to us? I suppose if you really want to pursue it. Do they speak to me? No.”
The very idea that he has seen them, and had witnesses see them or hear them, gave me the piss shivers. Do I believe that it’s all hooey or does part of me believe the spirits are there and I want no part of it?
This young man got out of the ghost hunting business because “it was starting to make me depressed and because once you’re in it it’s tough to get out of that type of lifestyle.” He still gets phone calls from time to time and depending on the situation he may go and check it out.
He had lots more to share about it, however, what I believe he delivers for a message is something like this: “While you may think ghost hunting is going to be fun or interesting it really isn’t something you want to mess with and suggests it best to just leave it alone. It’s more emotionally draining and involved than one might imagine and it’s a supernatural thing. Do we really want to be messing around in this? No.”
All’s Well That Ends Well
He’s currently a musician writing Christian music that he wishes he had more time to delve into, a busy dad and husband, who does pest control to basically keep the bread and butter on the table. True or imagined, I suggested that he write about his life. Take notes now, life goes by quickly and it’s hectic! Believe it or not, he’ll forget the details of this story one day.
His passion is the music that he writes and plays for His glory. All in all he’s a very interesting young man who has stepped up to raise someone else’s child, and who in spite of his own father’s obvious lack of fatherly parenting skills, maturity, morals, and disregard for responsibility, this young man has no issue with his ability to be the loving “man of the house”.
Think about this: this interesting story from one who about an hour earlier was a total stranger!
Listen For The Story
I’ve got more stories like this, as I’m sure many of you do as well. If not I encourage you to take time to look and really see people, hear their story, and try not to rush or discourage them through what they share. Rather, listen to them speak about what’s on their mind and in their heart when this opportunity comes along—especially if they’re a total stranger!