In Dunkin Donuts there was a Young Woman sitting at the table next to me. She was talking on her cell phone and upset because another girl had deliberately shoved her out-of-the-way to get on the bus. And in an I-can’t-take-it-anymore moment she shoved the girl back and they got into a fight. Tearfully she said, “This happens all the time. I don’t want to fight. This is not who I am. I’m sorry. This doesn’t happen when I’m with you. I feel safer with you.”
----more----
I wasn’t trying to listen in on this woman’s conversation. Dunkin’ Donuts is my mobile office. When I’m sitting in there, laptop open, I’m on the grind. But when you don’t have phone booths these are the types of open-air conversations you’ll hear.
Trying hard not to cry, sniffing for all she was worth the Young Woman said to her friend, “I’m an adult and yet I still feel like a child. Why does this keep happening? I’m scared all the time.” Her raw distress broke my heart. The mama bear in me wanted to hug her but that would’ve been presumptuous, intrusive, and possibly a felony. I was grateful she at least had someone she could call and talk to.
And so, without a word, I pulled a pack of pocket tissues out of my bag and slipped them to her. Maybe in that very small gesture she’ll know that we’re not all like that; that shoving people who are not superficially like us out of the way is not who we are. Well, it is, but aren’t we supposed to be striving for better? It’s our ability to embrace each other that makes us human.
So I’ll restock my handbag with pocket tissues. These days I seem to keep running out.
I’m Going to Get Gas, Cover Me!
Grown Folks Shoppin’
Home for the Hurricane: The Great Bundle Debacle
Coloring Outside the Lines, The Gift of the Battle Axe
One of Those Days
Does T-Mobile Hate Old People?
For the Love of Strangers; Any Given Saturday
Ain't Misbehavin'
Peeing Standing Up – A Four-Year Old's Failed Experiment
Sometimes I Wish FaceBook Had a Hate Button
The Power of Christ Annoys Thee
Thank You Chick-fil-A
Brow Beating: Coming in Hot, Fast & Mad
Price Match Death Match
Hot Wings, Wine & Moonshine
Who Am I? DNA Don't Lie
New Kids on the Boat
Daddy’s Girl: The Flavor of Fatherhood
Confessions of a Wannabe Rollerblade Queen
Dead Dick: Not a Viagra Story
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Talking Codswallop
Finding Pattersby
I SHAKE MY HEAD
Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!
Adam Carolla Show