Last night I was walking my dog and saw a large woman teaching her child to ride a bike with training wheels. She would not look at me and I sensed there was a reason. I asked her how she was doing and she said nothing. I asked her if everything was okay and she stopped for a moment. She said she was not used to being talked to by strangers because, (her words), I am a big white woman married to a black man and my son is black, so people tend to avoid me. I told her it does not matter to me what size people are, what they look like, and especially the color of their skin. I told her we are all the same. We all came from the same place and God does not care what color you are. She finally smiled and said thank you.

  I noticed the chain on the bike was a bit rusty. I said we were near my house and asked her if she would mind if I sprayed some lubricant on the chain. She hesitated, then said, thanks, that would be great. As I was lubricating the chain, I got to know the little boy and her a lot better. She told me about her background and that she was a nurse at a local hospital. I told her I thought that was great and she should be proud of herself for caring for others who are in pain.  We talked a bit more, then she went on her way, thanking me for taking time to talk to her. I told her it was my pleasure.

  I am the type of person who will talk to anyone. I love to strike up a conversation with people in line at the grocery store. You would be surprised to find out what you have in common and what their interests are. I saw a big Afro-American man and asked him if he used to play football. He lit up like a Christmas tree and told me he did. We started talking about sports and the memories of our glory days. He was a running back in college and his greatest accomplishment was running a sixty yard play, breaking thirteen tackles and scoring a touchdown. The best part was, he had it on a VHS tape and could re-live his great run anytime he desired. We became friends and now talk to each other frequently on the phone.

  Most people do not expect strangers to greet them beyond, Hello, how are you. I like to dig into their personality until I find a common bond. That is east for me because there is practically nothing that does not interest me in some way. I have made many friends this way and I always leave them smiling or laughing. It makes them feel good and it makes me feel good. I can sense when someone is not a good person, so I avoid those people. Overall, I think we should take the time to get to know strangers if you feel it is appropriate. Obviously, you have to be careful in this day and age, especially if you are a woman and you have children.

  Common sense will tell you if the situation is alright to pursue. You have to be careful. You do not want to end up getting conned or harmed in some way, but I just cannot help myself. I love to meet new people and find out what they are all about. I learn so much and feel so good, especially if I can help someone.