Swimming, almost, through life, the air thick with thought. A moment of clarity, a brief communal moment at the comfortable, couch-lined dressing room area of a department store. Waiting for my daughter, others each waiting for someone else. A short, round older woman, with a kind smile. She didn't speak, she didn't sit. She just smiled and walked and waited. Stopped, and walked again, and waited, ever smiling. A teenage girl also "just waiting for someone", her answer to another lady that wondered if the dressing rooms were full. Her voice awakened my senses to being more fully there. Two strangers, communicate simply, with a common understanding of the culture, as it is, that we live/shop in. Here we all were, in comfort, none seemingly rushed or stressed. All women, with the luxury of time and money and choice - so very many choices - of clothes to buy. I think of how fortunate we all are, and wonder if others there have the same thought. The woman with the most to say is an employee and she is from New York City. She'll give her advice even if people don't want it, she explains - that's the way it is in New York and if someone doesn't like it, well, they'll get over it. She isn't as brash as she thinks she might be, and her comments are helpful. Then, the family passing through. The mom pushing a stroller, the occupant is a toddler with not much expression on her face. Someone says hello to the little girl. I look at her blank face and in a moment of communal peace, a smile wells up from inside of me. Young, very young, middle aged, old and older -- all women and all who this small pretty thing will become. In those few seconds, her face brightens into a smile and I almost miss it - as her mom pushes her past as I take in all of the moment. But I didn't miss it. The little girl could feel the smile was genuine and that it was for her -- and she smiled back. Pretty little girl, may your life be full and satisfying. One day you will have your turn to be each of us. I hope your life is filled with many many smiles and much less confusion.
