Friday, March 9, 2012

Life as Story

Two (possibly) unrelated happenings:
I was sitting in the sun today at an urban coffee shop reading on my Kindle. A woman passed my table wearing so much perfume that I nearly gasped. I don't know what the scent was, but my senses registered "Too Much." In her defense, she was a woman perhaps close to my age, and she looked very chic (compared to myself). However, she reeked (which I do not). 
As I was trying to think of One Good Thing about the woman (I decided on stylish), a man approached my table and asked if he could take a seat. Thinking he meant literally take the seat I wasn't using and place it at another table, I answered, "I'm waiting for my husband." 
"Too bad," he said and went to sit on a nearby bench.
I looked around and there were plenty of seats available. So, I wondered if he actually meant, "Could I sit here with you?" I could see him in my peripheral vision - he seemed to watch me, but maybe I was imagining it. Here's the thing - my white hair is short and spiky and on this day as on most days I'm wearing running shoes with black yoga pants and an exercise t-shirt under a fitted lightweight black jacket. Alas, I'm not stylish, but I do think I have a fetching smile. As I sat mulling about both the woman and now the man, my husband finally arrived on his bike. The guy on the bench got up and ambled away when my husband approached the table. We sat and talked for awhile as people came and went and the sun warmed our backs. I didn't mention the woman or the man. Finally, when I walked home, I thought of stories and how Life is made up of interconnected happenings. Eventually, we make a book of them in our heads to amuse ourselves or to remember. Today, there was a woman whose scent outranked her appearance and also a man with dark hair who may or may not have been hitting on me. 


Life's happenings come spiraling at us and somehow we connect them into Stories.

28 comments:

  1. i think he was SO hitting on you!!! and he even lingered long enough to find out if you really had a husband! :)

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  2. I hope that man had good intentions. He sounds a little iffy though. And the woman, when I got o church there's tons of them reeking with perfume. And I bet you were dressed just fine Barb. Have a great weekend. Carol

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  3. I think the theme of appreciation in your post really applies to both interactions. You found a way to appreciate the scented woman and the man obviously appreciated you being there. Nice. BTW, really like the spiral!

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  4. I could imagine Bob giggling when he reads this!

    Your smile exudes beauty! Hehehe, I am allergic to perfume.

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  5. Great photo and enjoyed the story. Life seems to be so totally made up of random happenings and encounters, and how we react to these seemingly random events.

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  6. Funny story. People can be fascinating to watch.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  7. He was hitting on you! :D :D Your story about the woman ... I would have had to get my inhaler out!!! I'm also reminded: When Mr. Dragon was alive we were trying to *do* a Buddhist lesson a month and the one for January was don't be critical. It brought a lot of smiles to our face and we would run into situations that we would normally complain or be critical about. We would look at each other and say *critical*! I think you've just put that lesson to work with trying to find something nice to say about the woman with too much perfume ... she was chic!!!!!!!

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  8. Woow,I love this close-up photo. I will try it.
    Tomoko

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  9. Great photo. And yes - chance encounters cause us to weave stories. I sometimes wonder how far from the truth my version is.

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  10. I know what you mean about the perfume. Too much is as bad as cigarette smoke. It is nice that you thought of a good thing about her.

    He was and you know it!
    You admirer was in to fit and healthy it seems.

    I don't know why, but this post really cheered me up.

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  11. Some women's radar for too much perfume wears off because they have been wearing the same stuff for years and no longer 'smell' themselves.

    Yes, I agree, that chap was hitting on you. I think it's better to have a (harmless) man hit on you than become invisible. I hate being invisible.

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  12. Oh how fun, how fun! I love both of your stories. I love how people come into our range, and then disappear. I love how there are so many possibilities to life. Maybe the woman was hitting on you and the man was going to teach you deep spiritual lessons. LOL! We never know, do we?

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  13. I agree with Friko. He was hitting on you and that has to be just a wee bit of a kick. It would be for me. Love the photo.. what is it? :)

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  14. You little hottie, Barb! Ego boosts like that are always welcome. :)

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  15. I definitely think he was hitting on you -- he waited around just to see if your husband arrived.

    I couldn't have been so kind to the overly-perfumed lady.

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  16. What an interesting day you had! And thanks for sharing it in such a wonderful post. Love the story, the photo and the statement about how life comes spiraling at us. So true!

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  17. Hi Barb!
    Now Barb...
    I think you ARE stylish!
    You are one of my heroines!

    and another funny little story...

    One Sunday afternoon, before Jason left for Austin, my children were gather 'round the table as usual. They started talking about the way girls dress. Jason said that too many girls have it all wrong when it comes to what is attractive to men. He had us in stitches describing the ruffles, frills and flowery silky tops they usually choose for a Friday night out on the town. He said if he had his way, there would be a shop called "Guys Will Like You if You Wear This." He described his favorite pants that girls wear... "black flowy pants." Amanda and Rachael finally figured out that he meant YOGA pants. His favorite tops that girls wear are understated cotton T's ...
    So, you see... You are wearing all the right outfits :D
    Smiles,
    ~ Maria

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  18. Just quickly dropping by - LOVED this story, absolutely he was hitting on you!! Take that as a huge compliment (but he should have gone after what you said, so it was just tad creepy that he hung around) Hmm. Your spiral photo is just sensational. I love your blog, its so uplifting. Thanks so much for sharing.
    Best wishes
    Rose

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  19. Strong perfume is such a put-off for me. I'm pretty sure the guy in the coffee shop was hitting on you. :)

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  20. I LOVE IT! LOl oh my gosh that is awesome! I know I know, but don't we all just need a little ego boost now and again and don't you just love the...."eat your heart out I am taken" in the end! I think being who I am... would have had a fun time with it and after the fact and he was long gone, did a little rubbing in hubbys face LOL, just to keep him smiling. :)

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  21. Possibly unrelated but tied together in words. I am glad we both have husbands... I would not want to ever be back in the dating world. That guessing over "is he hitting on me or just needing a chair" could be sooo draining.

    That image is quite a capture! I love how it is held together by the strength of itself. An AMAZING shot.

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  22. LOL! Love the way your intertwine your two stories.

    That photo is wonderful!

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  23. That's one amazin' photo sweetie, as I am sure your one amazin' gal who could easily attract attention from a dark headed fella.

    God bless ya sweetie and have yourself a magnificent day!!! :o)

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  24. That is a fitting sculpture to top off a fine post. (And by the way, he was definitely hitting on you.)

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  25. Love the story and the photo you chose to illustrate it. I bet you felt good after that!

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  26. Life is full of surprises and as always it's good to be true to yourself. Interesting possibilities....

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  27. I really loved this blog (sorry I am a bit behind with reading and commenting), indeed life is ofefreing us daily a lot of small stories;

    I really liked also the thought you had: to think of one nice thing of someone who has made kind of negative first impression/smell;-)may i Steal this one? thank you...

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  28. I really loved this blog (sorry I am a bit behind with reading and commenting), indeed life is ofefreing us daily a lot of small stories;

    I really liked also the thought you had: to think of one nice thing of someone who has made kind of negative first impression/smell;-)may i Steal this one? thank you...

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Your comments are always one good thing for me!