“Good morning, Beautiful,” he said out of nowhere. I didn’t know him. And I had on a mask so he couldn’t really see my face. Bundled up in winter layers (coat, camo-print sweatpants, heavy snow-conquering boots), I was also a bit lopsided from the laundry bag-- the strap on my left shoulder, the bulk of the weight hanging down my back, filled to the brim with freshly laundered clothes. In my right hand, I carried two grocery bags; just a few items. I’d decided with the store being so close, I might as well get these now instead of coming back out after putting the clothes away.
I’d passed a few people on the street but he was the first to look me in the eye and initiate a hello.
Exiting a UPS store, he wore a camel-colored trench, was sporting a softly slicked back mane of wavy silver gray, had light blue or possibly gray eyes, and a pleasant, confident, open energy about him.
Something about his delivery--energy radiating off it, and then his energy-- the pausing to make eye contact before continuing on his journey, had me automatically lighting up. Before I knew it, I had stopped, turned around and was responding with, “Thank you! And good morning to you, too!”
