strange kindnesses

“Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” -Blanche DuBois

like ms. dubois i feel that i’ve always found something in the

strange kindness that can be brought on

in just

the exchange of money for a newspaper

the asking of directions and being told where to go

the conversation that comes from mutual boredom between two in a waiting

room

talk produced by mutual anxiety when crammed in a subway car, an elevator, a

bus or an airplane (which inevitably relieves stress) or

banter that comes when purchasing gas at a gas station---

it can come when you expect it but it can amaze you even then,

when you tell tech support the problems with your cable television, your PC, your

telephone (really any of these western conveniences) & you think that they are

just playing the game

but they are nice to the nth degree!

the conversation between two people who have absolutely nothing to do with each other

except

for the context of that phone call,

can be an eye opening experience---

if anything,

it can illuminate the similarities in us

which can only be found when we have no other

vested interests or ulterior motives---

they are found in common politenesses

wherein people usher families through

when they are on their own

or when they offer up the same help with

directions or

with a special skill that they possess which another does not.

 

unlike blanche,

i don’t depend on these moments of

kindness,

as one cannot depend on anything in this short

existence,

but i do find them interestingly unique & positive amongst the

rest.