Whirligig

[pjthompson]

"What is the strangest thing a stranger has ever said to you?" Mat Auryn asked his followers on Twitter (@ matauryn). I remembered this: “I am so lost right now, like when I was a kid on a spinner at the playground and I fell off and I wanted to get back on, but I couldn’t. And it kept spinning.”

I didn't respond very well, so I wrote this poem:



In real life, I typed up the poem, printed it out, drove back to the bookstore, walked up to the counter she was standing behind and handed it to her. "I wrote this for you," I said. She laughed nervously. I turned and left.

I don't know if she laughed at me with her friends, if it meant something, I don't know what it meant. I just knew I couldn't leave things as they were, reinforcing her maybe feeling that maybe nobody gave a damn. I concede it was a deeply weird thing for me to do—and probably more about me than her.

I usually went to that bookstore about once a week, but I don't recall seeing her again. For all I know, she hid out in the storeroom if she saw me coming.

Whatever you need to say, from deep in your soul, say it. It doesn't matter if people laugh at you. The universe needs to hear it.

And maybe laugh at you as well.



 

Comments

[sartorias]

Agreed.

[pjthompson]

😁

[wayfaringwordhack]

I for one do NOT think it weird, and I am not saying that just because I "know" you. I think it is gestures like this that can shine light into the darkness of those in need.

Thank you so much for sharing with us.

[pjthompson]

Thank you for saying so, my sweet. 😘

[rimturse]

I think you did a beautiful thing, and I'm sure she appreciated it, even if she was slightly uncomfortable with it.

The strangest thing a stranger ever said to me was something along the lines of women being spiders in human skin suits.

But the most moving was when a man spent a two hour train ride telling me about his fiancee who had been killed in a car crash with me holding his hand as he cried. His friend was with him but left after a while, and I think sometimes it's just easier to pour your heart out to a stranger whom you know you'll never see again.

[pjthompson]

Oh my goodness! What a moving story about the man on the train and how wonderful of you to listen. Yes, sometimes I think it is easier to tell strangers with no vested interest.

And I think your spiders in human skin suits is one of the stranger things I've heard! I mean, I've heard stranger things, but not said to me directly. Bwoogity!

[rimturse]

Thank you.

I believe "spider man" didn't have all his marbles aligned, since that was not the only weird thing he told me.There was also something about Norwegians secretly plotting world domination.

[pjthompson]

Can't trust those Norwegians. 🤣