One Giant Leap for Ein Kleines Kind
The plastic bag is in the top of the tree. Three stories up. This distance means little to the two foot child under the tree, leaping with his hands up, … Continue reading
Clock Watching
The shuttle heading north is supposed to leave the airport at 8:05 pm. The elderly pair in the front seat wait. The driver leaves the door open and the shuttle … Continue reading
Someone to Watch Over Me
The lady behind me at the stoplight has a very tired looking Guardian Angel figurine hanging from her rearview mirror. For good reason. Since pausing, she’s been engaging in an … Continue reading
The Deliberation: To Crock Pot Or Not
They were the third pair that day mulling over the used crock pot at the back of the thrift store. Ultimately, everyone shops the same. A teenaged girl and her … Continue reading
Courteous Cardio (or My New Old Friend)
I enjoy the solitude of the vacant cycling room, until an elderly man peeks in sheepishly. I beam. (By now it should be clear that the elderly are my favorite … Continue reading
Resolution
“Beware of pickpocketers while praying.” I pass the sign in the entryway to the Church of the Infant of Prague. I keep my hands in my empty pockets. I admire … Continue reading
Good, But No Samaritan
On the 92A bus, a gruff Austrian soldier keeps his pack on as he watches intently for his stop. Two elementary-aged boys on board spot an opportunity and sneak up … Continue reading
Cat Scratch Traffic
She squints at the stop sign with the groggy look of 6:00 am drivers. Watching for a break in traffic, the woman suddenly comes alive. She jolts. The car rolls … Continue reading
The Church Flirt
The church is freezing, though it isn’t particularly cold outside. Suddenly even attending Mass seems an exceptionally pious act. The tourists walking through blow steam from their lips. They clasp … Continue reading
Nana, did you have any idea?
Not a day of strangers, I spent the afternoon with my niece Addyson (yes, that Addyson). My mother’s birthday gift was a surprise on her return from Oregon. We cleaned … Continue reading
Thank You For Searching, You Nice Strangers
One of my favorite things is to see the search terms that bring people to the blog. I wanted to share my ten favorites. Many made me laugh, but still, … Continue reading
Concerto for Cello and Springs
An infant boy in red-footed-pajamas races down the moving sidewalk. His curly locks bounce as he bounds. Bystanders cringe as he nears the end, his father breaking into a sprint … Continue reading
Saturday-Ja-Vu: How To Kill Time
Some days feel more land-locked than others. I was reminded of Croatian bus drivers and border crossings today, though I haven’t spotted either one. And children and adults staying entertained … Continue reading
Tomatoes and Crushes
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
He had been handsome when younger; he remained handsome, but had reached an age where people gazed at him like his days…
The Joy of Forgetting
This morning I took my notebook out for a date at the park. We had a delightful time. I ran a pen dry. While taking notes on what I’ve seen … Continue reading
Palms
Two small boys track the line of workers trimming the palm trees. The men in green jumpsuits stare up at the man-lift. The boys nod at each other with tight-lipped smiles … Continue reading
Relieved
A stray dog circles the rather vacant beach. Lean and leisurely, he weaves around people sunning themselves like he’s a bored security guard. He heads for an unattended pile of … Continue reading
A Donut Day In Swimsuit Season
The woman at the register greeted the next pair in line warmly, “I’ll take the next…Hi.” The mother stepped forward, her son jumped and danced up alongside her. “Well, don’t … Continue reading
Lawn Pilot
Still only one-third of the way through his job–navigating a riding lawnmower over two acres in front of the Lutheran church–he delighted in shredding each swath. He chose a bright … Continue reading
The Nice Thing About Strangers 