Conversations with Strangers
Every year, my family cleans out our accumulated junk, takes out an ad in the newspaper, and has a yard sale. Today was That Day.
My favorite part about sitting in our driveway at 7 a.m. with a cup of coffee, haggling with strangers over how much that Toy Story lunchbox should cost, is the conversations that arise. I'm often discouraged by humanity (with good reasons, just look at the news), but it's the small moments that remind me there are good people in the world, and they have a hell of a lot of interesting stories to tell.
My mother and I met a couple who are both retired pastors, who raised their granddaughter from ages 11 to 18, and who bring stuffed animals to child patients in the hospital.
This conversation ensued:
Pastor: My husband's always saying, "Nancie..."
Mom: You're Nancy? I'm Nancy.
Pastor: *handshake* Nice to meet a fellow Nancy. I'm Nancie with an 'ie.'
Mom: Oh, I'm Nancy with a 'y.'
Pastor: I WAS Nancy with a 'y,' but I got rid of that. I went to a small high school and there were 5 Nancys. One day, I just decided to spell my name "Nancie." I wanted to be different.
Rock on, Nancie.
