Random Trips

Good afternoon everyone!

Today I would like to share about one of my experiences while living here in Denver. A few weeks ago, before making the conscious decision to get to know my neighbors on my own, I was asked and encouraged by my family, if I would be able to return somethings to the library for them. Although I wasn’t fascinated by the idea, I agreed and began my long adventure down the street. 

Yes down the street. It’s still a mile and a half walk, it’s not that close.

So as I tried to blend in and convince myself and everyone else that I was a native here in Denver, I pulled out my GPS in order to have accurate directions to where to go, because you know, lots of people get lost walking to the library that’s just down the street.

As I walked, I noticed something that perhaps I hadn’t noticed before. People. Lots of people. Lots of people around my age. Every time that I picked up my head from my GPS, more and more of them caught my attention. I thought it was pretty cool seeing so many people like me walking around in the city.

After I reached the library and began my accent (because I was walking down hill and now I had to make the laborious journey up hill) back home, I noticed a few things. One I was out of shape. Two, I was walking on the wrong side of the street. So as the walking figure appeared on the panel at the cross walk, I quickly made my way over before the orange hand of no crossing halted me to a stop.

In my haste however, I failed to notice that my running to the cross walk appeared as if I was following and possibly chasing a guy walking across the street as well.

Whoops.

In my embarrassment, I cleared my throat and explained and I quote, “Hey, just so you know, I wasn’t stalking you, I just don’t ever leave my house, so I don’t know how to navigate.” I nearly pulled out the GPS on my phone. I opted not to for my embarrassment was mounting now. He turned to me and pulled out his head phones, and said “Huh? Oh, I hadn’t even noticed.”

=’]

Great I started an awkward conversation that did not need to be engaged in. Oddly enough, that moment of embarrassment served as a conversation starter. You see, for the next mile and a half we engaged in dialogue about a variety of topics. We talked about our experiences in moving to Denver and how our past homes compared to this one. We spoke about what we hoped to accomplish and our hobbies, favorite sports, etc.

It was only when I was about to turn unto my street that we both realized that we lived only a block or two apart. At this point I learned that his name was Tony and that he, like me, also enjoyed writing. We exchanged contact information and settled on keeping each other accountable with our writing.

Who would have thought that a moment of embarrassment and randomness could have been used to get to know a random stranger and make a new friend?

It was because of this moment that I not only decided to leave the house more often, but to also engage with my neighbors and get to know them.

Now, every once and a while, I intentionally take time out of my morning to walk to the park in order to meet new people and just smile and say hello.

All without the awkwardness of course.

It may not be anything extraordinary, but I get to meet people that I wouldn’t otherwise meet hiding in my home, and I get to see the many people of my neighborhood on a regular basis.

Praise the Lord for random library trips and awkward conversations!