(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Do you ever talk to strangers when you’re waiting in a long line or for an appointment? I often do. It makes the wait seem shorter. Ever see those TV commercials that show young home owners turning into their parents? I’m rather embarrassed to say, I identify with about all of them; putting my two cents in whether it’s asked for or not. A good description of me could be, “She never met a stranger.” Some of my best friends I met at the craft store. One of us just started talking to the other and we hit it off. We joke and say, I picked her up or she picked me up.

I really feel for the people who have trouble making friends, especially if they are afraid of trusting other people. I know there are people in this world who aren’t very nice. Unless you take the chance how will you know if someone is good for you or not?

Some of my friends I have known since I was in school. Over the years, we went our own ways for a while then we got back together. It felt like we had never been apart. Back then, if I only knew how important they would all be to me now, well I guess I wouldn’t have changed a thing. The ones who have stood beside me all along are the ones I love so dearly today.

My birthday is coming up soon and I thought about having a party, not a birthday party, just a friends and family party. Then the problem would be who to invite. I have all these friends I’ve known for years and friends I do things with now through dancing, sewing, crafting, etc. I like so many people and would love to have one more big evening with all of them together. Yet I couldn’t invite the whole town.

I’d have to remember my husband has friends, too. We joke that when we go places, people speak to me by name. Then they just smile at him like, oh yeah, hi to you too. The other day we were at a store that serves samples so I asked him to find out when a certain sample would be ready. The woman told him rather sternly, “I have to wait for them to cool.” Then she looked at me and smiled real big and spoke to me. I laughed all the way out of the store. He did too.

It is nice having friends. If some stranger speaks to you when you’d rather be left alone, politely let them know you don’t feel like talking. Think about it though, you may be giving up the chance to have a new and interesting friend. Maybe not, but at least you have taken a chance. Why don’t you try it? Speak to the person next to you first. It can be fun. Before you know it, your wait is over and it’s time to move on.

Bonita (Bonnie) Eaton

Vienna