Strangers
I went out to Starbucks after lunch on Christmas Eve. I'm by myself and I figured getting out of the house a little each day is a good idea, so I picked a little table outside the store and sat down. It's been unseasonably warm out for December and I doubt I even needed my coat.
There were two men sitting outside chatting. One was three years older than me (I know because he mentioned his age) and the other was a middle-aged French man. They were talking about traveling and places they'd lived and I just sat there drinking my hot chocolate and smoking which was kind of funny. I lit up and then like it was a yawn traveling from person to person-the older man lit up, followed by the younger guy (he had a pretty awesome beard).
I wondered aloud where the hell the ashtrays were that Starbucks used to keep on the tables and I suppose that brought me into their conversation. Because, somehow without that awkward "do you mind if I butt in?" portion of striking up a conversation, I was suddenly discussing how Woodbridge was a boring pit with nothing for the kids to do since the Vans skate park was closed. I mentioned my former high school art teacher's involvement with protesting the shutdown of the park and how it got him arrested, and we all ended up chain smoking and talking about nothing (and how the younger guy lived in Maine and ran a medical marijuana dispensary where he had a cancer patient that his plants were actually helping).
We kept on talking about nothing much until the younger guy said goodbye.
The French man asked me to elaborate on a few points I'd made and I mentioned that I was still unemployed despite my college education. I got into the "fine" part of my "Bachelor of Fine Arts" degree and how I'm more experienced with "fine" than "web." When I mentioned how hard it was for me to find work within my degree field and how most employers stipulate "must be employed at time of interview" on applications, he said something very kind.
"Don't give up on that. You may feel discouraged and lost, but don't stop doing artwork."
He mentioned his son and how he had a job with a company in Richmond that went belly up after he worked there six months. He told me his son had a degree in business and he's working at the VABC (the liquor mart in Virginia-we only have the Alcohol Beverage Control stores up here). He spoke about moving from Europe to the States with a job, losing that job, and trying to get by with no immediate family around to help. He reminded me that I'm very lucky for my parents taking me in. Without them, I don't know where I would be right this second.
He was kind, he listened to me, and I was reminded of why I like talking to random people. I hope he has a pleasant Christmas, and I hope all of you do as well.
There were two men sitting outside chatting. One was three years older than me (I know because he mentioned his age) and the other was a middle-aged French man. They were talking about traveling and places they'd lived and I just sat there drinking my hot chocolate and smoking which was kind of funny. I lit up and then like it was a yawn traveling from person to person-the older man lit up, followed by the younger guy (he had a pretty awesome beard).
I wondered aloud where the hell the ashtrays were that Starbucks used to keep on the tables and I suppose that brought me into their conversation. Because, somehow without that awkward "do you mind if I butt in?" portion of striking up a conversation, I was suddenly discussing how Woodbridge was a boring pit with nothing for the kids to do since the Vans skate park was closed. I mentioned my former high school art teacher's involvement with protesting the shutdown of the park and how it got him arrested, and we all ended up chain smoking and talking about nothing (and how the younger guy lived in Maine and ran a medical marijuana dispensary where he had a cancer patient that his plants were actually helping).
We kept on talking about nothing much until the younger guy said goodbye.
The French man asked me to elaborate on a few points I'd made and I mentioned that I was still unemployed despite my college education. I got into the "fine" part of my "Bachelor of Fine Arts" degree and how I'm more experienced with "fine" than "web." When I mentioned how hard it was for me to find work within my degree field and how most employers stipulate "must be employed at time of interview" on applications, he said something very kind.
"Don't give up on that. You may feel discouraged and lost, but don't stop doing artwork."
He mentioned his son and how he had a job with a company in Richmond that went belly up after he worked there six months. He told me his son had a degree in business and he's working at the VABC (the liquor mart in Virginia-we only have the Alcohol Beverage Control stores up here). He spoke about moving from Europe to the States with a job, losing that job, and trying to get by with no immediate family around to help. He reminded me that I'm very lucky for my parents taking me in. Without them, I don't know where I would be right this second.
He was kind, he listened to me, and I was reminded of why I like talking to random people. I hope he has a pleasant Christmas, and I hope all of you do as well.