MAY I ASK A QUESTION?

When I was in school, my family moved a lot which meant I was often the new kid. I was very shy, and yet always managed to learn a lot about the other children by asking questions.  Where are you from? Do you have any siblings? Do you ride the bus to school? Do you know where the school library is?

As an adult, my questions tend to be a bit different. Where are you from? Do you have children? Do you ride the bus to work? Have you been to DisneyWorld lately?

I seldom miss an opportunity to ask questions. And I meet the most interesting people.

·       When flying to Memphis I met two women who read newspapers and magazines for a living!  I didn’t know that was a job.

·       At the Ophthalmologist office I met a woman who was getting eye injections because of her diabetes. She said for lunch that day she was planning to eat cookies.

·       At a Woody photo opportunity, I met a cast member who retired and moved to Florida so she could work at DisneyWorld.

I still walk daily at my local park. I am very interested in those who walk with me but our communication is limited to “good morning” and head nods. And I have questions!

SQUIRREL – There are always squirrels in the park, but this one eyed me from his tree as he ate his breakfast and the next lap, he was walking the track in front of me. Did his doctor say he needed to get more exercise?

PENTECOSTAL WOMAN – I am guessing, here, but she wears her hair up, her denim walking skirt reaches her ankles, and she has a beautiful smile. When she passed me, I noticed her t-shirt was from Mardi-gras. There has to be a story, there.

CLOCKWISE FRIENDS – These two were chatting and enjoying their walk but they were walking clockwise against the flow of other walkers as they passed me. (They were pretty athletic as they could walk and talk at the same time!) Did they not notice, or do they just like to go against the flow in life?

WEIGHT LIFTER - I thought she was lifting weights but as she passed me, I realized it was a cell phone. Who was she talking to and what did they think about the volume getting softer and louder as her arm pumped?  The second time she passed me, she stopped to tell me my shoe was untied – and offered to tie it for me. Shall I assume I look like someone who can’t bend over to tie a shoe?

WOMAN ON A WALKER – This one startled me. She arrived before I did and was on her last lap. She walked carefully a few feet, then stopped and raised/lowered her arms. Was it her physical therapy? And if we walk at the same time, will she be able to pass me like all the other walkers are able to do?

There are many unanswered questions in my universe, and I want to ask them. For starters, will I ever be the walker who passes someone else?