We were hit by a fast-forward storm yesterday. Walking back from school, a thunderstorm started right above our heads. Hailstones covered the whole street so that we were sliding in our boots. It went very dark and the rain and wind were raging. Lightning flashed simultaneously with a huge crash of thunder. This all took about a minute, and then the storm was gone. The rain stopped, the light came back, the hailstones started to melt, the thunder was quiet in the distance. A couple of minutes later a rainbow appeared. It stayed less than a minute as well.
It was a very strange but wonderful experience. I had the rain cover on Marie's buggy, and Jack and I had our winter coats on with the hoods up, so we were all protected from the hailstones. I found it such a shame that all the other people around us were complaining or running away or generally hating the storm. It was exhilarating to be in, and they just couldn't appreciate its beauty. Just looking at things differently could have brightened their day.
I have been guilty of a similar thing - of not seeing beauty where it is so obviously to be found. On Sunday I was sitting in Starbucks at the airport, waiting for May to arrive. Around me were three men, also sitting on their own, each minding his own business. I had been wondering where they were from. One looked like he was Indian, or from that part of the world. One was more Eastern European, the other perhaps North African looking. (I'm not so good at that guessing game.)
After about half an hour, one of the men got up to buy some sweets and he offered one to me. I declined straightaway, in a friendly way but not inviting any more conversation. In the past, I would have quite happily chatted away for a while, perhaps learning a little more about the world through his eyes. Instead, I assumed he was trying to pick me up. (I know - I'm so modest and unassuming. I'm looking particularly hot these days, though. ;-) )
Of all the times I have spoken to random people in public places, maybe twice ended in my being slightly creeped out, and both times I just said goodbye and left. I wish I wouldn't have hit him with my prejudices. I wish I'd been a little more open. I wish I'd given the conversation a chance. I bet he was just bored. He probably had another five hours to wait there until he could check in. Chances are he was just trying to pass some time by finding out where I was from and why I was sitting there in the middle of the night.
The world was fine and beautiful. It was my thoughts that made it less pretty.
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Good to know that we're both finding beauty where others mightn't. These skies are phenomenal, let's make the best of it.
ReplyDeleteThing is, I'll still talk to (pretty much) anyone - the sort of woman who attracts 'weirdos'. It makes life more interesting, doesn't it?
Don't be so hard on yourself. You DO appreciate the beauty. And there's always next time.
ReplyDeleteI love storms like that, I truly do. Not so much speaking to strangers; I barely like to speak to people I KNOW when I run onto them in public!
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about being with the children is their positivity. When we went outside today after it had rained for ages, my 4 year old said 'what a beautiful day' even though it was cold and wet. It was lovely to hear. As for talking to strangers I'm wary. In an ideal world we'd be friendly to everyone and I used to be until I inadvertently attracted a few weirdos in my early 20s. It's a shame but since then I'm very careful.
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes - in spirit. In practice, somewhere between cynicism and openness to beauty lies self-preservation...
ReplyDeleteLove a storm. The way they turn your senses on.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed chatting up strange men. In fact its rather a hobby of mine. It gives me a break from being someones mother and wife and all that that encompasses.
Wish someone would try that with me... ;0)
ReplyDeleteWell then you have obviuosly never been to Alberta. As the saying goes around here "if you don't like the weather wait 20 minutes". It has been known to rain, snow and be absolutly beautiful all in the same day. I have known it to be 30 celcius in June and have snow 2 inches deep two days later.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you've never met a Canadian :o Especially since we are everywhere somewhat like cockroaches.
It's not a bad thing to be cautious in this world. Don't fuss over it, it was probably crummy candy anyway ;)
Oh you never know. He could have been a kiddyfiddling nutjob, trust your instincts, never acceptsweets from a stranger... ;)
ReplyDeleteDid you fix your comment form? Only one click today!
Well maybe next time you'll go against your instincts. Hopefully not much could happen in an airport!
ReplyDeleteFunny but we have the same saying about CHicago as Meghan - "If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes and it'll change."
Yes, a storm as you describe can be almost uplifting as you bask in awe of mother nature, but it depends on your mood at the time as to whether you feel miserable as you are getting soaked or hacked off! Difficult one about the strangers, but I think you have to follow your instinct at that moment in time.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Storms are fantastic - I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with them. Any extreme weather is exciting for the kids and I love how the children make me see things differently.
ReplyDeleteHe might have been lonely or he might have been a nutjob. They are kinda thick on the ground and they do hang around in public places alot. I do love people watching though, you just have to be ready to duck out when the nutjob rears his head.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next time you'll act differently. Sometimes you're just not in the mood and I understand that.
ReplyDeleteI think we're all guilty of this from time to time. But you're right, it is prettier without the cynicism isn't it?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately a few not so good experiences can taint our perspective. But yes life is so much prettier without the cynicism - I'm often guilty of bypassing the good things because of it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteFabulous insight. I'm guilty of this too. And I often regret it after -- when it is too late.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to hold back that reflex reaction, isn't it? But having reflected on the moment, maybe next time you'll pause for a second and that will just give you the opportunity to act differently - if you choose to. I'm a great believer that life keeps throwing us 2nd chances. And 3rds, 4ths, 5ths....
ReplyDeleteLovely post x
You do have to watch out for people though. I've been harassed by strange people lots of times.
ReplyDeleteWhen Rose was a baby a mentally challenged man I gave the slightest bit of a smile followed us on our walk home from the library and sat outside our house. For hours. I had to call the police. It was very sad and very scary.
@Weston-super-Mum? - I do think it makes life more interesting. Now we only need a weirdo-meter-from-a-distance.
ReplyDelete@michelle - There is and will be.
@Kori - Yeah, people I know are awkward.
@Emily O - All these comments are making memories of homeless guys following me around Cambridge coming back.
@Pueblo girl - Self-preservation I practice. Sometimes I wonder though if a little more risk may not be healthy.
@Countess - I never wanted to chat hime up!!! ;-)
@Nova - You should try hanging around airport bars in the middle of the night. :-)
@Meghan - Well, I did go to Edmonton once and obviously I met hotel staff and restaurant staff, as well as a dreamy mounty. But it was a conference and I met-met only people from all of the rest of the world. Too freaky.
@Jo - You're probably right. At least now I have the memory of the conversation that might have been.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I have not fixed anything. I often have to click twice on other forms as well - I don't know why. Probably a Blogger glitch.
@Expat mum - I think probably I'll take everyone else's advice and stick with the instincts for now. They seem to have served me well so far.
@Diney - True - and it makes a difference if you have a coat or not.
@Hot Cross Mum - I think I like them so much because I get worried and scared as well. They're like the slasher movie of nature.
@GingerB - True. I think this one was genuinely waiting for a plane.
@Aunt Becky - I was writing some stuff. And he added inspiration, so that was good.
@Mad Woman - It is. Cynicism is dull, and uninspired. And too easy. (I was a cynic for a very very long time, didn't dare to venture out.)
@Lady Mama - You should try and change your outlook one time in a hundred - it often makes me happy.
@Bethany - Thanks. And welcome!
@A Modern Mother - I think the trick is to reflect and then be ready the next time. Still, when in doubt it's probably still best to stay away from random men in nighttime lounges.
ReplyDelete@Mama Po - Oh, you just said what I said just now. How lovely.
@erin - True, true. That sounds like a horrible thing to have happen to you.
The storm before the calm... the theme seems to be danger—realizing the fierce beauty of nature with its hailstones and thunder, and then wrestling with the dark nature of loyalty, curiosity and desire at the airport. I think men who are not "creepy" struggle with this issue as well, as we all would probably like to connect more without being miscontstrued.
ReplyDeleteI've missed a lot of your posts while I was away, sick, sore or busy being cynical. Glad I'm catching up. I love a storm too. Especially hail and lightening. And rainbows!
ReplyDeleteI too struggle with where my nice person went, I used to enjoy meeting new people, but now new people are strangers or people I don't have time to get to know. Makes me feel a little less somehow. At least you notice and think about it, that has to count for a lot when most of the world seems to wear blinders.
I just happened upon this post (a month late, I know!) and wanted to say - I love talking to strangers :)
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