As a new year approaches I'm sure many of us are hoping 2010 will be better than 2009. Maybe some of us will find work this year, maybe some of us will meet someone special. Maybe someone special is right in your neighborhood, just waiting for you to say hello.
We got gas put in our car on Christmas day. While the young man was filling up our car Lily started telling me about him. She said he had been working there a couple of years now. His wife was going to college to get some kind of a medical degree. Both of them worked, apparently at different times so he didn't see her much.
Another man was working at the station at the same time. I asked Lily if she knew about him too and she said yes. Apparently his wife was restricted to a wheel chair and he had to bathe her each day. This is not a burden to him because he loves her very much. Lily told me the man liked to take her camping because she enjoyed being in the woods.
We live in a world of people and a world of stories. Isn't it ironic that we love reality television even though most of us doubt that it is as spontaneous as it is made out to be? Some of us enjoy watching each other at the mall, but we usually don't speak to one another. Twitter, Facebook and texting indicate we have a need to (almost) reach out touch someone, but not really.
As I write this Lily is watching the News and they are advertising a site where you can rant and rave. Apparently there is a need to speak out, shout, protest, whatever. Has the so-called silent majority decided it is time to finally speak out? Is there something you just have to get off your chest? If so, there is a web site, social network, blog site, feedback forum someplace where you can express yourself from the seeming safety of your computer.
If everyone is suddenly speaking out I wonder who is listening. Is anyone listening to the people who pump our gas? Do you talk to the person who delivers your mail? I wonder how many people talk to the very friendly people who work behind the counter at the Tigard library.
As we start 2010 may I suggest we investigate the possibility of enriching our lives by speaking to those we see frequently; the young man behind the meat counter at Safeway, the lady at the bank, what about the lady who works in the bakery at Albertson's?
We are surrounded by people who would be shocked if we asked them how they are doing today. Did they enjoy seeing the Blazers beat Denver the other night? Is it cold enough for you? Do you think we'll get snow again this year? Were you able to surprise someone this Christmas?
Maybe people will not answer you because they are so shocked you said more than hello. Most likely the next time you see them or maybe the time after that they will speak to you. It may take a few visits, but maybe in 2010 we can all enrich our lives for free.
In a few days many of us will make our New Year resolutions. Maybe some of us can resolve to do a better job of listening to one another and hearing the stories we'll never hear on line.
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