Greetings and Snubbings

A couple moves off after exchanging a greeting with me.

    While I took a walk, two adults strolled by in the opposite direction. They were strangers to me. We exchanged hellos. A simple courtesy.
    Two days prior, the scenario played out differently. I was taking a walk.  Three teenagers—a boy and two girls—shuffled in my direction along a sidewalk. They were probably fourteen or fifteen years old. The gap between us closed. I offered a nod and a quiet hello.
    One of the girls fixated on a smartphone. The other girl stared down at the pavement. The boy looked at nothing in particular, including me. They passed without saying a word.
    I wasn’t surprised by their snub. Many teens shun impromptu interactions—even a simple hello—with adults. Aloofness is part of their modus operandi.
    But later in their teens, that sense of detachment fades. They're more apt to say hello to passersby.
    When a teenager greets a stranger, that adolescent has become a young adult.

Abusing Security

    Store Monitored by Closed Circuit Television

 That warning sign (seen in photo) hung above an aisle at the supermarket. The implication was clear. If I shoplifted, my action would be recorded.
    I am not a thief. And I don’t like being filmed on a video. But I tolerate the presence of security cameras. This store, after all, must deter thievery.
    But at some retail establishments, security cameras are used for additional purposes. They monitor the walking patterns of customers. They take note of which shelves their customers purchase goods from. This information has marketing value.
    Retail establishments should divulge if their security cameras are being used for other purposes. I’d support such a law. If convenient, I’d avoid stores that record my browsing habits.
    All to often, security and safety are used as excuses to infringe on our privacy.

Taking a Risk

    Dogs hate me at first. Something about my demeanor riles them up.
    I expected trouble as I approached my friend’s home in Northern New England. She owns fourteen sled dogs. They live in a rural area.
    The dogs went berserk as I approached. Greeting me were barks, growls, and threatening postures. Each dog was chained—thank goodness—to their own little shelter.
    My friend introduced me to each dog. Her presence eased their rage but not their wariness.
   I slowly extended my hand to a dog named Crash. Doing so was risky. The animal could bite my fingers. Instead he sniffed.
   With a light touch, I brushed Crash’s mane. The contact was brief. He backed away. Then he came back for another round of sniffing and touching.
    Shortly thereafter, Crash and I became friends.
    I don’t think it was my scent that alleviated Crash’s wariness. What chilled him out was the presentation of my hand. It was a social gesture that made him curious. And this curiosity diverted his rage.
    People are like dogs in that respect. They're wary of strangers. But when a stranger initiates a conversation, the other person can read into the stranger’s personality. If the conversation goes well, suspicions ease. All it requires is one person breaking the ice.

Tipping Point

Wet newspaper on my driveway.

    The empty envelope arrived with the newspaper. It was addressed to the person who delivers my newspaper. He was appealing for a tip at years end.
    I’ve never met this person. He shows up during the wee hours of the morning. His job is hard. Low pay and few benefits.
    I could empathize. My first job was delivering newspapers. Tips were a big deal at the end of the year. Surely this man deserved some generosity?
   It’s not that simple. Drivers come and go. The same person does not always deliver the papers. That human connection is lacking. Still, it’s not the driver’s fault that his work hours don’t coincide with his customers being awake.
    Without a doubt, the quality of the delivery service has declined. Sometimes the newspaper does not show up. And the driver does not place the paper in the box (seen in the background of the photo). The newspaper is apparently thrown out the window of a vehicle.
    Still, I agonized over whether or not to leave a tip.
    Then came a tipping point. One morning, the newspaper was soaking wet. It hadn’t been placed in the box on a rainy day. I was fed up.
    Tips are not deserved, they must be earned.

Generosity to Strangers

    While hitchhiking, I received a ride from a man driving a Mercedes. He asked me for money in return for a ride. It happened in South Africa.
    While in Zimbabwe—the adjoining country—I asked a passerby for directions to a train station. He asked me for cash in return for assistance.
    Why were they clamoring for my money? Was it because I am white? Not necessarily. Someone there told me, “In Africa, you must pay for everything.”
     Last October, I went for a day hike on The Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts. I came across a cooler (seen in photo). It contained water and candies. Local people had placed it there for hikers. Many streams were dry on the trail, hence a need for water.
    A hiker left a note to the donor. It read, ’Thanks for the water. I was getting worried for a while there.’
    Why do people in some places ask for a traveler’s money, while in other places they exhibit generosity? I am happy to live in a society where generosity to strangers is practiced.

Eccentrics

    A butcher caught my eye. He wore a turkey hat while serving customers at the supermarket. His garb was festive. Thanksgiving was right around the corner.
    Chances were, the man was an eccentric.
    Some people look down on eccentrics. They consider them weird. They ostracize them. When I was young, I too viewed eccentrics with less respect.
    That attitude changed back in the 1980’s. I attended a concert by The Clash, a British punk rock band. The singer’s name was Joe Strummer. During the show, the music stopped. Strummer went on a rant about eccentrics. He said they were misunderstood. He asserted that eccentrics were an asset to society.
    Eccentrics are more curious than most people. They’re creative. They got mischievous senses of humor. They often exhibit preoccupations.
    Their eccentricities bring cheer to people. For this reason, I wonder if eccentrics are happier than so called normal people.