Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?
Walt Whitman
Wow! I love that quote. That totally describes my philosophy. Thanks Mr. Whitman, well said. The majority of my friendships have been made in just that manner. I talk to strangers.
After Zumba class on Thursday morning, my friend Karen and I stopped at McDonald’s for a cold drink. We met over a year ago, hiding in the same back corner at the YMCA, commiserating, mumbling, and laughing at our attempts to zig when we should have zagged. (Strangers now friends.) As we stood by the iced tea dispenser, we noticed a couple of ladies chatting and showing off an embellished Fourth of July T-shirt. We admired the home-made shirt, commented and proceeded to our table.
Karen and I spent over an hour visiting, talking about friends and family, joking to the point of tears. We walked out to our cars, but then, I felt compelled to turn around and talk to the two friends with the T-shirt. I plopped my iced tea at their table and said, “Would you ladies mind if I join you for a few minutes?” They were most cordial, and after brief introductions, we were talking like old friends.
Brenda and Debbie explained how they met at church less than a year ago. They agreed that sometimes just extending a kind word or talking to a stranger could result in a special friendship. That’s how they met. We exchanged names and Facebook info and promised to keep in touch. It’s funny! I told them that people give off a distinct electrical energy, and I knew when I first glanced over and saw them laughing, that I knew they were fun, welcoming friends.
Brenda and Debbie (My new friends) Walt Whitman knew what he was talking about.
Toni Andrukaitis 
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