I just had quite the encounter at WalMart (yeah, I know, its where everything exciting happens in Siloam Springs), and I just have to share it!
I had just finished up a walk and was sweaty and gross but needed some things to make dinner. So I rushed in to the store, pushing my buggy too fast, hitting a few corner displays, occassionally cutting people off, and knocking down any stray children who weren't hurried along by their parents fast enough...ok, so that last part isn't true. (But I felt like ramming a few unattended wild ones!) As I was tossing things in the buggy, I paused-just for a second-trying to decide which honey to buy when this old, little man, who must have been close to 90, says, "Excuse me, but can you help me?" My inner monologue at that point went something like this: Great. I'm gross and want to go home. What could you possibly need help with? It's peanut butter. Choose creamy or crunchy and call it good. If you can't decide, just get both. But instead I smiled and said, "Sure!"
The old man proceeded to ask me about the whipped creamy peanut butter versus regular creamy peanut butter, I gave him my opinion (buy the regular creamy), picked up the nearest thing of honey, and got ready to push off. But he just kept standing there. Smiling and looking at me, and talking about everything that came to his mind. He told me of his most recent adventure of moving to California to live with his daughter, but he stayed only a few weeks and decided to come back to Siloam because she "just didn't have time for him, since she's really busy with work". He told me of his experience with a horrible moving company that took some of his stuff, and how he expected people to be honest and never do something like that. He shared that his wife passed away, and he lived alone, and he was starting all over in a new duplex that he really liked. He told me about his hobbies and that he didn't know how to cook. In fact, he told me most of his stories twice (I think he was a bit forgetful)! I bet I stood there listening to him in the peanut butter aisle for 20 minutes. He was just so happy to have someone to talk to, someone who would listen. Then when he was finished talking, he reached over and gave me the most frail, sweet hug and told me he enjoyed our visit. :) Then he said, "I sure hope I see you again." And smiled and waved as I pushed off, a little slower this time.
This sweet little old man touched my heart!! I certainly hope I see him again. I'm sure I could if I wanted to, since he gave me his address (taped to the front of his checkbook cover) and phone number (on his big ole Jitterbug cell phone) before he pushed off.
I think I'll start by writing him a letter.
