Two people stories I love:
I was at the public library checking out some books before I had to run to my next home visit. This tall, older African American man stopped me as I was walking by and this is how our conversation went:
Man: Hey- how tall are you?
Me: 5'11
Man: Wow, you are tall!
Me: You're pretty tall yourself.
Man: Sure am. Whats your name?
Me: Sarah. What's yours?
Man: Rainy. What are you doing here?
Sarah: Oh just checking out some books. You?
Rainy: Well I need to get on the computer but I will look for you when I am done.
That is the basic gist of the conversation. He made me smile and I really would have loved to talk to him more but I had to run. He was so enthusiastic and loved that I was tall. He made me smile! Now that is a great people person!
Story 2:
I occasionally go downtown to pick up food boxes from St. Mary's food bank for some of the families I serve. Now I say this with love...but St. Mary's certainly brings in an interesting crowd of folks coming to pick up a food box. When you are a case worker they push you to the front of the line and let you skip ahead of everyone else. So I was quickly ushered through the lines and was waiting for the next available volunteer (I believe they get a food box themselves if they help for the day) to bring out the food in a shopping cart. As the man pushing the cart came out- he gave me an up and down and I knew the next few minutes of my life would be priceless! Here is our conversation:
Man: "You are really tall!"
Me: (wow if I had a nickel...) "Yep."
Man: "I bet you are really good at volleyball."
Me: (again if I had a nickel...) "You know a lot of people assume that, but don't let the height fool you...I am not very good at volleyball."
Now let me just say that I have been called a lot of things in my life in reference to my height- amazon woman, jolly green giantess, etc., but I must say that this is my new favorite!
Man: "WOW...You must be an Olympic sized couch potato. "
Me: (speechless....seriously!?!)
Man: "So you don't like any sports."
Me: (Wow.....wow.....I can see you will do great things!) "I never said I don't like sports. I'm just not that great at volleyball."
Man: "What sports do you like?"
Me: "Well I really like to snowboard. And..."
Man: "Do you where high heels?"
Me: (ADHD anyone?) "Yes."
Man: " That must make you like 6'6!"
Me: "Um...yeah." (Okay people seriously. Lets do the math here. 6'6 minus 5'11= 7 inch heels!!!!! For crying out loud do they even make heels that tall????)
That was probably one of my favorite candid conversations from the hood! Oh the things people will say!
And yes...I am an Olympic sized couch potato and proud of it!
LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEE ITTTTTT! That is hilarious!!!!! :) Second story is my fav. You know I like the hood!
ReplyDeleteP.S. did you fail to mention that you just ran a 10K and biked in a Triathlon! Awesome stories!! :)
Hilarious! I too like the second story best. It always amazes me what comes out of people's mouth. Glad you can make people's day with your height.
ReplyDeleteGreat stories--loved them, though I'd never really thought of your height as one of your defining characteristics. Let's just say that wasn't what convinced me to get up to learn/do the Haka after we first met, even against my better judgment.
ReplyDeleteLove it! You have the awesomest stories ever! Miss you!
ReplyDeleteSarah, You are amazing & we really enjoy you sharing your wonderful stories & yes you are one awsome people person! Love Ya! Hope to see you in June in Utah! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove those stories! I think they should call it OLYMPIC SIZE now instead of BIGGIE SIZE at McDonalds when you order things..... That was great girl!! Way to make it positive and that nickel thing- you should really start it up. I think you would have enough nickels saved up to GO to the OLYMPICS !!! Ha Ha!!
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