Random Conversations

I love the random connections that come my way, and the unstructured daily routine that makes it possible.

Just last week, I went out to my mailbox as the postman rode up on his scooter. As he handed me a bundle of mail and checked that he hadn't any others for me, I learned that he's been on the job for 3 months, he doesn't know how long he'll be doing this, but he hopes to move on to something better. I didn't get to ask what he used to do or what he aspires to do, but we'll get there.

The important thing is: greetings were exchanged, we each gave a little of our true selves, and the barrier was broken. In a stressed-out society where people worry constantly about job security, mortgage repayments and school fees, it's good to have these little social exchanges that brighten the day and take your spirit into a deeper, more meaningful place.

It's like how some of my neighbors wave on their way past our house. I wave back - but I have to admit I don't know most of them personally or even which house they live in. It just makes the street a nicer place to live on.

This morning, I made an impulsive decision to walk around the block before I sat down to my writing.

I passed a house on Johnson Ave with an extremely pretty front garden - flowers in all shades and shapes - and I briefly thought of congratulating the owner on his effort. "Your garden makes me smile," I would say if the chance ever came up.

I passed another house where an elderly couple live. When Jordanne was a baby, we used to go for morning walks with her in the stroller, and the old lady who lives in the house (Macedonian? Polish? Greek?) would be busy out front trimming and weeding and checking on her plants. And I thought to myself, if ever there's an elderly person who doesn't need the doctor, it's her.

Today, she was sitting in the garden having a cuppa while her husband was doing the checking.

I waved and she shouted out, "Good morning!"

As we pulled up in the carpark of Jordanne's daycare centre, she exclaimed, "I saw Keshni!"

Keshni is the Fijian childcare teacher who cared for J's class last year. She's wonderful as a person, and fantastic with the kids. You can tell she really loves them and loves her job. She's always smiling, and never looks bored or inattentive or can't-be-bothered like some of her co-workers.

We caught up to Keshni outside J's classroom, and chatted about how she was going with the babies (she's moved to the Babies room this year), how she recently visited SG and M'sia, M'sia is such a wonderful place (we fed 3 people on A$2, so cheap!) whereas SG is like Melbourne (but hotter) and there's no point going there, how she hopes to visit M'sia again before starting on her 3-year Bachelor of Education, how she misses the toddlers.

Just little things that add up to a richness of variety and depth in my life that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Hospitality 201

I am finding that the more I am called to open my home to others, the more I enjoy it.

The arranging of flowers and furniture.

The creativity involved in pulling things together to create A Look.

The frantic decluttering.

Shopping for new items to upgrade worn and shabby ones.

The opportunity to deepen old relationships and create new ones.

The chance for our children to be with new people and to help others feel welcome on their turf.

Our guiding principle: better to be generous and to risk overdoing than to be slack and possibly give offence or - WORSE - fail our own expectations of what gracious hospitality should look like.

One group of visitors have just come and gone.

This Sunday, we begin again.