Zig Zagging

Christmas Shopping, don’t you just love it and how many of you still have a bit to do before time runs out, and how many of you wait until Christmas Eve to start, Cindy and I went out yesterday to finish up some of our shopping, I keep thinking we should be finished but I know my wife, rather than start shopping on Christmas Eve she will continue shopping until then.

Shopping in the Winter Wonderland that is Southern California caused us to brave the cold, frigid, icy, grab your heavy jacket, OK I will have to admit that shopping when it is about seventy five degrees is not too bad and with this said there was no jacket required during this shopping trip.

I decided to practice a bit of what I have been preaching lately, I also made a point of observing people because I do love to people watch and there is a diverse group of folks to watch in the area we live. I have suggested being nice to people and giving each one you meet a smile, hello, have a nice day, and Merry Christmas while you are out and about, I held as many doors as I could and really enjoyed the smiles I received in return, I did get a few grumpy looks and sighs of disgust as I held doors open with my crutch tips held firmly at the bottom of the doors but that’s OK, I made an effort and if they didn’t appreciate it right away maybe they will give someone else a hand later on.

While observing people one man I noticed was standing in line ahead of us talking loudly to himself it appeared, he was really animated and talking in a language I didn’t recognize, as he laughed and pointed and continued talking I looked to see if he was wearing a bluetooth device on his ear, I have made the mistake of thinking someone was either talking to themselves or me in the past when they actually had a cell phone conversation going on, this man seemed so happy with his conversation and paid for his purchase without ever acknowledging anyone around him, as he walked out the door his arms were still waving and he was still talking as if someone was right by his side, Cindy thinks he was talking to himself but I don’t know, I never saw sign of a cell phone device but I did see an animated individual who was laughing a good bit and enjoying his day, that is not a such bad thing in my opinion.

A young woman in another shop dressed in military pants, a heavy jacket, scarf, and hat drew attention as she stood in a corner and scribbled on a tablet, like I said before it was 75 degrees outside but to each their own I suppose, she actually stood in line behind us and when it came her turn to be waited on she turned her back and scribbled on her tablet, the clerk looked at me and I suggested that she may be writing down what she wanted, the clerk asked her if this was what she was doing and the young woman walked away, to make a long story short she turned her head and spoke to no one, she scribbled on her tablet the whole time she was in the store, turned her back whenever approached, and shared her writings with no one, she left the store right behind us going to her car and retrieving what looked like a long walking stick, last I saw her she was standing in front of another store window scribbling on her tablet, when we passed back by her car was gone, this young woman was out and about among the crowd but at the same time was all by herself, whatever she was scribbling I pray finds her an answer for whatever was keeping her to herself, no one should be that alone among good people in my opinion.

One major department store we ended up in I found myself going in circles like the little kid in the Family Circus comic, you know the one who is going to a house just up the block but zig zag’s all over town before he gets there, well this was me following Cindy through all the clothes racks and back again, we finally landed in a section of nightgowns which Cindy and about four other ladies were all going over one particular rack, I smiled to myself as I watched this group laugh and enjoy each others company, I tried my best to stay out of their way, Cindy really enjoyed talking with these ladies and found out more about their lives and shared a lot of ours with them in about a half hours time than most families learn about each other in a lifetime, I wished them all a Merry Christmas as we turned to leave and got a group of smiles and well wishes in return. These ladies were a blessing to see and Cindy having a bit of conversation made each of their day and Cindy’s too a little bit better, sit down and talk to your family when you can and even talk with strangers when you meet, because without conversation you never learn anything about anybody and with conversation you meet friends and stay close to your family.

Shopping in a Winter Wonderland was really a lot of fun for me, there are a lot of good people out there who are happy and a lot who need a bit of understanding, I see good things in our future and I know good and well that this was not out last shopping experience this season, I do think I will take a lesson I saw in an elderly man who was sitting by himself in front of a store staring at the floor, I said Merry Christmas to him as we passed by and he smiled, he came out of the store soon after us walking on a cane with his wife by his side laughing and talking as they made their way to their car, this man sat on a bench in front of the store while his wife zig zagged through all the racks and came out with a basket full of goodies, I think I will skip the zig zagging and find myself a place to rest next time we go shopping, although on second thought it is fun to try and keep up.