Odd

Yesterday I spent the day in Pasadena with a good friend and in our wanderings we talked about some of this and some of that.  Topics that span greater than everyday conversation which is always a fresh breath of air.  As we were walking back to Hubert (the best car ever) we stumbled upon an interesting find. You see, in Pasadena there is a scientology church.  And they have a...... 'show room' we'll call it, where they have all kinds of displays up and information about how scientology started.  I've always wanted to go inside but the doors have always been closed, but yesterday they were open.  So we went!  Which I apologized for later.

We walk in a Mary greets us and asks our names and before we know it we're off to explore in this quiet odd place.  They have displays where you watch videos for information.  So we sit and then this man, Chuck, comes out of nowhere and when the movie is over we get up and he immediately approaches us and wanted to talk.  I think at this point we both knew they wanted us to get hooked.  Too bad for them we already have everything we need.  But we talked for a while asking him questions and trying to not be too disrespectful and point out his mis-connections.

Then he asked if we wanted to watch just a 7 minute video on the basics of scientology.  We said sure and then happened the weirdest part of all.  He led us into a dark room with eight seats and a giant screen.  We sat there both wondering if we were about to be brainwashed, then he left.  We sat in the dark, and watched a seven minute video that was all things we knew on how to relate to people.  After it was over Dana come in and she greeted us with videos (which we didn't leave with because you had to buy them) and she shared a little bit about herself with us and we said we had to leave and walked out.  Both totally baffled.

You see, even though I don't really feel like I had real conversation with these three, I was very struck by their intensity.  They wanted to talk to us so much and wanted people to understand their way of living so much.  I think we all fall under that category sometimes, maybe not so intense, but we all desire to be understood and wish that more people felt like we did or could relate to our way of life.  I hope I dont seem that intense to people, I don't feel as if I want to live life that way. But that is the way they did it and for them it seems to work.  Here's to Mary, Chuck, and Dana...good luck with scientology.

newest friend.

I work at a coffee shop and have for about four months now.  As you can all imagine, what a perfect place for small conversation and a warm drink.  Well you're right. But as the barista sometimes it's not as simple as that.  With people to please and things to do in a hurry there are often times when people walk in and I think to myself, "I want to talk to them" but they come and go and I'm left with only the few words of 'thanks for my drink' and in response I say have a wonderful day!  or something to that effect and am left with questions and thoughts never being said.  It's the pits.

But however there are the few times when it's slow and I don't have too much to do and I can take a second and interact with people that come in.  Or when my regulars come in and they know just by seeing me that we have something to talk about.

Let me take this chance to tell you about one of my favorites.  I didn't just meet him but he's still new to my collection of friends and I just enjoy him so much.  We'll call him stan.  Stan is probably in his 60's and lives in our town.  When he comes in and knows I've been there since 5:30 he greets me with a "good morning sunshine!"  We talk about the weather and he tells me all about the churches he helps and how involved he is in the community.  We talk about how neither of us have TV cause we dont need them and we can read the news in the paper or online.  How we like the joy of reading good books and we're not so sure about kindles or nooks but that's the direction our world is going.  Stan is simple, he's genuine and he loves good conversation.  He'll often just stop in the shop to say hi and chat, which I appreciate.

One day, I hope I remember to live my life as simple.  Maybe he didn't choose to live that way and would rather not but he's playing the cards he's been dealt and he is the most positive about it.  Talk about spreading joy to so many people.

This is where life is taking me.

I have recently found that in my selfish, centered, and all about me life that I often live there are people who I encounter that change my insight to life.  That give more something more to think about or something else to appreciate.  There are people who just make me laugh, the ones who leave me in awe (for better or worse) and those who just inspire me to do a million things before the sun goes down.

This is what I will write about.  You see being 23 I want to remember the people that I meet in the places that I go because right now in life...I can go anywhere.  So this is my story.  Of other people's lives through my own eyes.  Which could hold no truth to who they are really, but I'll try to be accurate but I'm warning you I have a fairly big imagination and it can sometimes get in the way.

Here's to the people I meet and the stories I will have to tell because I'm willing to step out of my own comfort zone because everyone has a story to tell and something they are just itching to say.