A friendly stranger is someone you don't know but who you see every day. It could be someone you see at your bus or train stop, someone you who passes by you as you run every day, someone who lives in your neighborhood who smiles and waves to you as you pass by in your car on the way to work. In other words, someone you have never spoken to, except maybe a good morning but who has become so familiar daily that if they aren't where they are supposed to be, you wonder if they are ok.
I have a few friendly strangers I see at the only restaurant in my work area. We stand in line, mumble a good afternoon but that's about it. Today, one woman stopped me as I walked towards her and commented on my amazing weight loss and how good I look. I explained that I had the stomach bypass last year and that's why I have lost the weight. She said that she finally realized it about 5 months ago but was hesitant to comment in case I was losing the weight because of illness but watching me walk with a bouncy step, she figured that I wasn't sick and it was safe for her to say something.
This was the first compliment from someone other than a family member or friend and it was a wonderful feeling to have someone I really don't know notice the difference. I am grateful that she took the time to stop me. Sometimes friendly strangers if they do speak, say just the right thing.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
HOORAY FOR TECHNOLOGY
The new time change had everyone worried just as we did when 2000 approached. Would our technology things like computers and cell phones change automatically, or would they wait for the originally planned change at the end of the month.
I too was a little concerned but not much. I really don't use my cell phone clock and having my home computer an hour behind for a month wouldn't bother me because I can always look at my wrist. No, I was more curious to see if the technology was up to date and if things changed as scheduled.
Well, it appears that both my computer and cell phones are smarter than me because both changed right on schedule and I am confident they will again correct themselves in November.
It always amazes me and I am very grateful that the techno geeks at the companies which control these things know exactly how to work everything so that us non techo mortals can go on with our lives without tripping over ourselves. Now if someone can tell me how to change the digital time on my stove everything will be right with the world.
I too was a little concerned but not much. I really don't use my cell phone clock and having my home computer an hour behind for a month wouldn't bother me because I can always look at my wrist. No, I was more curious to see if the technology was up to date and if things changed as scheduled.
Well, it appears that both my computer and cell phones are smarter than me because both changed right on schedule and I am confident they will again correct themselves in November.
It always amazes me and I am very grateful that the techno geeks at the companies which control these things know exactly how to work everything so that us non techo mortals can go on with our lives without tripping over ourselves. Now if someone can tell me how to change the digital time on my stove everything will be right with the world.
Friday, March 2, 2007
oh where oh where has my Dali gone??
Last month I was channel surfing and I came upon an art auction. Normally I don't buy things from television, but this was so facinating, I just watched people bid on signed Picasso lithographs plus other items by artists I have never heard of. Everything auctioned received bids but most were abstract items which didn't appeal to me and besides, I really couldn't afford most of the items once the bids became quite high. There was a one minute countdown on each item and whoever had the bid when the bell rang, was the winner, even if there were higher bids. This seemed to be fair to me so I kept watching as 15 items were auctioned.
After a while, a signed Dali was shown and it caught my interest. After 45 seconds passed, the bidding was still within my reach so I picked up the phone and dialed the number on the screen. A very friendly young man answered the phone with 55 seconds to go. I placed my bid then held my breath while the last 5 seconds counted on the television. I had won the bid!!! I was overjoyed. I too would have a Dali of my very own.
Two weeks later, I received a letter from the Art Auction company indicating shipment a week earlier. Unfortunately I had not received it. I tracked the UPS shipment by the number indicated in the letter. The shipment was signed for by someone I did not know. I immediately called the phone number on the letter. The same young man answered. When he heard my name, he immediately told me that after sending out the letter, they realized the painting had been sent along with other merchandise to another customer and tracking had already begun.
That was about 4 days ago. Today, I received a call from UPS indicating they are having trouble locating my painting. UPS does accept responsibility for losing it and have notified the art company who also called me. The person who signed the UPS receipt is a big customer, and has so many paintings, he can't find mine. It must be nice to have that problem. I just want the "one" painting I picked.
The company indicates if they can't find mine they will offer an alternate (I didn't like the other choices which were abstracts) or return my money. I think I am just as entitled to own a piece of art even if I am not in the "money" bracket. I just hope my Dali can find it's way home to me.
After a while, a signed Dali was shown and it caught my interest. After 45 seconds passed, the bidding was still within my reach so I picked up the phone and dialed the number on the screen. A very friendly young man answered the phone with 55 seconds to go. I placed my bid then held my breath while the last 5 seconds counted on the television. I had won the bid!!! I was overjoyed. I too would have a Dali of my very own.
Two weeks later, I received a letter from the Art Auction company indicating shipment a week earlier. Unfortunately I had not received it. I tracked the UPS shipment by the number indicated in the letter. The shipment was signed for by someone I did not know. I immediately called the phone number on the letter. The same young man answered. When he heard my name, he immediately told me that after sending out the letter, they realized the painting had been sent along with other merchandise to another customer and tracking had already begun.
That was about 4 days ago. Today, I received a call from UPS indicating they are having trouble locating my painting. UPS does accept responsibility for losing it and have notified the art company who also called me. The person who signed the UPS receipt is a big customer, and has so many paintings, he can't find mine. It must be nice to have that problem. I just want the "one" painting I picked.
The company indicates if they can't find mine they will offer an alternate (I didn't like the other choices which were abstracts) or return my money. I think I am just as entitled to own a piece of art even if I am not in the "money" bracket. I just hope my Dali can find it's way home to me.
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