Lunch With Strangers

During the holidays there was a day where I got off work at noon. For half the day I was receiving holiday pay. Yippee!

My original plans were to go pick up the boys from my aunt's house and take them home early.

But the night before I realized how silly that was. Hello? I had a few hours to myself that I would be able to use as I please. As a working mom- or any mom for that matter- this opportunity doesn't present itself very often.

Plus- the boys' cousins were at my aunt's house as well and I knew if I tried to take Nathan home early it would result in a complete "how dare you take me away from this place where I'm having the most fun ever and make me go hooommmeeee???!!!" meltdown. Cuz yanno- home- isn't it the place where his family is and his toys and good food and love? Yeah- but that never seems appealing when you're having fun somewhere else.

So I let my aunt know I got off work at noon but wouldn't be there to get the boys for several hours afterwards.

Now- what was I to do? Lunch alone and a good book felt like it would be pure bliss.

So after work I went to the store and got the second book in the trilogy I was reading and decided on a yummy lunch at Panera bread- one of my favorite places to eat.

I walked into Panera and whooooa the place was packed!! It appeared every seat was taken. Every.last.one. It guess being close to the holidays many other people were enjoying time off from work.

I ordered my food anyways and began roaming for a table- eyeing people to see if they were done eating and might possibly be getting up soon.

Nope.

Nope.

Nope.

THERE!

A vacant table.

I ran and threw myself on top of the table attacking it like a lion to a zebra in Africa.

Ok not really but I did quickly make my way to it and gracefully sat down- feeling a little guilty that my measly little self was taking up a table for four- but there were no other options.

Right when I took a bite of my sandwich and picked up my delightful book anticipating to be mentally transported to Italy- a woman came up to me.

"Would you mind if my friend and I join you?" she asked.

She was an older woman with a very warm smile- and although a part of me was disappointed for a second that I wasn't going to get my lunch alone with book experience- I said "I don't mind" and they took their seats.

Nancy and Ruth.

The next 40 minutes we talked about nothing and everything. Nancy was in her 80's a Ruth was in her 50's.

We talked about family and jobs and inheritance (Nancy was buying her granddaughter a house for part of her inheritance- whhaaa?) and which bank has the best customer service (Nancy felt passionately about this). Books. Food. Christmas. Churches. Jewerly. Broadway. We talked a lot and by the end of lunch any passerby would have thought we were grandmother, daughter, and granddaugter.

Our conversation was sweet and easy. And it didn't take long for me to know that this was much more refreshing than lunch alone with a book.

I knew as soon as they sat down this happened for a reason. If the only reason was to lift eachother's moods- it was still a reason.

In fact shortly after they sat down a table nearby opened up. I saw them eye it and than Nancy said "let's stay here and leave that for someone else who needs it" and I was glad they stayed :)

It got me thinking though...this whole lunch with strangers...

Of how we react to those around us.

How little eye contact we share.

How many times someone opened the door for me and even though I murmured a "thank you" I didn't even look at their face as I said it.

An elevator ride alone with a stranger where both people stay quiet instead of sharing a short simple conversation.

When did we become a society that only invests in ongoing relationships?

When did any interaction with someone we don't know become not worth our time?

When did we assume we don't have anything to learn from eachother?

When did we become so alone in a world full of people?

What if we did make more of an effort to make eye contact, have short conversations with someone you don't know, or even take the risky move of having lunch with strangers?

We always focus on the negative encounters with strangers. That person who might give you a nasty look when your toddler is having a melt down for example.

But what if we all became better strangers? Helping strangers in little ways. Opening doors more. Telling people you hope they have a wonderful day and MEAN IT. Smiling more at people. Complimenting strangers.

Yes there are some wackos out there and definitely strangers we need to stay clear of.

But there is also a lot of good we can receive from strangers and simple things we can do and say to lift someone's mood.

I hope I never forget my lunch with Nancy and Ruth.

God knew I needed that more than being alone with my book.

And I hope I become a better stranger because of it.

Have a great Friday!

Luke is 4 months

Dearest Luke,

On Christmas Eve you turned 4 months old.

And on Christmas Day I was reminded about how exactly one year ago on Christmas day we found out you were on your way. What an amazing Christmas present.

PERSONALITY

Your personality is really starting to shine and you are ALWAYS smiling. I mean...A L W A Y S.

You might be a morning person because as soon as I come in your room in the morning you are already smiling ear to ear- just happy. And it's so contagious and joyful!


You also have started to get upset when someone is showing you attention but then has to walk away. You don't get too mad but just whine like "where did you go?!"

SIZE

You, my man, are growing growing and growing! I can't believe your size! You are wearing 9 months and some 12 months and you are only 4 months! But you don't look overfed- just big! You do prefer to eat small frequent meals. When you take a bottle you only eat maybe 5 oz at a time if that. But you prefer to eat every 3 hours at least during the day.

You haven't been weighed in awhile but I would guess around 16 lbs.

We're learning more and more about cloth diapers. Every once in a while we run into an issue. Recently it's been ammonia buildup. I'm still glad we chose cloth diapers because there are numerous benefits however all of the trial and error isn't so fun. Sometimes you wear disposible diapers and you just moved up to a size 3.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

You don't take pacifiers anymore. You prefer to suck on two of your fingers on your left hand and always seem to have them in your mouth.


You can now hold toys and chew on them. You are starting to reach for things you see but still need some help sometimes grabbing onto them.


You continue to "talk" non-stop. You seem to like the sound of your voice and want to coo to someone as soon as you notice they are looking at you. We're definitely a family of talkers and you fit right in!

EATING AND SLEEPING

You still nurse like a pro and during Thanksgiving you quit getting up to eat in the middle of the night. My only theory is that you got so much mommy time while I was off work for Thanksgiving that you got your "mommy fix" and no longer needed to see me in the middle of the night. You have slept at least 9 hours straight ever since! I am so grateful for this since the sleep deprivation was really starting to make me make mistakes at work! The only down side is that now on work days I don't see you from the time I put you to bed til I get home from work. Which is 9pm one night til 5pm the next day. Sometimes it's really hard on me but it makes me cherish the days at home I do get to spend with you.



HEALTH

A problem with you preferring to suck on your left hand is that you always want to lay on the left side of your head. Hence...your noggin' is a little lopsided. Your daddy and I are doing everything we can to try to get you to face to your right more hoping that we don't have to resort to the helmet someday.


Your skin. Oh your skin. It's always something. I guess it comes with the whole red hair and light complexion. The eczema has improved greatly since I started using BabyGanics lotion and body wash.


However, now you tend to get some nasty rashes in all of your creases (armpits, behind knees, neck) I've tried aquaphor which helps a little but yesterday I tried triple paste and it seems to clear it up the most. I'm going to ask your doctor about it when you have your next appt. We keep it clean and dry but last week it still looked like this...

(don't worry- it looks much better today!)

BROTHERLY LOVE

No one makes you light up as much as your brother Nathan. In fact- Nathan doing the jumping jacks makes you crack up the most! It's pretty funny to watch. I love watching you two together.




(Nathan's eyes are closed but I still like this pic- look at that red hair!)

I love to watch you with your daddy too. You seem to have him wrapped around your finger a bit...


We love you little man!