It began when a woman about my age said she liked my outfit. We were sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, she with her daughter and me with my husband. I thanked her for the compliment noting this was the first time I’d worn these two vintage (actually just old) articles of clothing together. With news of the latest mass shooting on the nearby TV, she commented that it was such a tragedy children couldn’t go to school these days without fear. I nodded and she continued, saying that perhaps it was understandable. When I asked what she meant, she said as a Christian, good and evil were ever present in our lives and we could only hope for good to prevail. I nodded again suggesting gun control was certainly another factor. She told me that her father owned a gun and never put it in a locked cabinet because as children, she and her siblings would never have thought to touch the weapon or ammunition.
Thus began one of the most meaningful 20-30 minute conversations I’ve ever had with a complete stranger and her daughter. Is it perhaps helpful to note they were African American, born and raised in the South? With laughter, smiles, questions back and forth, and nods of agreement, our conversation covered many subjects: being raised by a single parent (the daughter), parenting (all three of us), religion, race, public housing, income disparity, education, and politics.
I only wish I had gotten her name and contact information before she left to see the doctor and my husband returned. Powerfully inspired by this interaction I’m committed to being open to more opportunities like this, realizing how much I can learn from listening and learning from those who bring different experiences and perspectives than my own to important conversations.
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