Moments with Strangers #1

The summer before (2008), We had a garage sale.

An old man probably in his 60s came with a cup of coffee in early morning... I and my dad greeted him, and he started to talk to us and then browse around the stuffs we put out for sell. That was around 8:30am. (right around we finished the set up). He went and looked around, got a handful of stuffs that he wants to buy... I can't remember what are the things, there were quite a lot of them... but there were this Mickey Mouse sag.


He said he wants to get this for her daughter who lives in the states, he is going to post it to her in a parcel full of Mickey Mouse stuffs, "She loves anything Mickey Mouse. This will make a great birthday gift for her." He said. "She is going to get marry in the coming fall." He said.

"What a nice father" I said to myself.



Then he started to talk to me about more things, first about how nice we are to have this garage sale in the community, he saw our sign on Sheppard and decide to drop by, then we talked about some food and cooking (he told me step by step about how to cook mash potato in half an hour ^_^ since it involved at least 5 mins of instruction.. I will make it short by saying the key he said - cut the potatoes in half and boil them for 20 mins. "That way the potatoes will cook through" He said).

He talks alot, in a passionate manner, there's nothing crazy about him, only friendliness.. even to a Chinese young girl who literally just woke up from my bed, with my hair tied up and my glasses on me in my sleeping clothes...

I was tired, woke up for the garage sale and set up from 8am. As we talked more I started to enjoy talking to him. With the sun shining through the garage which we stood under, I see his white hair shinning, his wrinkles are deep, I thought it must be from smiling alot?! We then talked about how him remember his mom... then onto his family... his daughter and kids... He seemed to love life very much.



Later, he mentioned he was a alcoholic and gambler. He went through two divorces. His kids from the two marriages grew up, they wouldn't want to have anything to do with him before.




I was very surprised he would share me that, and I was a little bit shock - Such a nice old man, had stories that were less than glorious. And he generously shared his feelings to me - literally a total stranger.


He told me, "You learned from your mistakes, there are times in life you confused and done many things wrong... but one day you learned and realized and said to yourself "what have I done". And now, I only want to do well in life, love and treat my family well. Now I have a great relationship with my kids. Now I live with my current wife in the senior apartment, I treasure what I am having and make up for the people I hurt before." (Note: Might not be in exact words ^ ^ """ But I remember it was worded something like that... and only better because he was a well spoken man)


So true... I realized now that I recall this lesson from a stranger - forgive your past, learn to live and love your life all over.




We talked for like about 30mins at least. There were nothing awkward about it. I love listening to what he said, only the potatoes part I was tempted to tell him I know how to mash potatoes though hahahhaha..

In the end, of course I gave him great price for the things he bought (haha) He asked me for mine and my dad's name. Shaking hands, when he wanted to say his name. I said "David, right?" .. He was shocked. (got him hahha). I told him, cos he mentioned his name once in the conversation when he said his mom said "David, ...".. He then asked, "So you are Asian?" I told him I'm Chinese Korean. and I said "I know your Irish :)" (Got him another time). He said "How could you know?" I said, cos you mentioned it.. when you said you sent your daughter to do Irish dance... I just assumed your Irish ^ _^ "I'm very impressed, Angela" He said.

Sure. You better be. hahahhaha.
I should consider myself a good listener. Am I?
I don't know. I never knew I am a listener.


His story... I should have remember... earlier... so maybe I would never feel depressed about my life as much. But that's a maybe. Maybe... things just have to happen on me for me to realized. Like how David did in his story.




Tonight, I remember this David I met once, what a sincere smile and strong handshake he had, he was a very peaceful, calm and mannered old man. I hope he's doing well at the senior apartment four blocks from where I live. Anyway, so this is one of my little encounters with strangers... Many more to come. ^_^