March 17 - Speaking With Strangers

When our children were small we tried to instill in them the general rule that they should not speak with strangers.  Now that I am a visually impaired adult, I find that I frequently break this rule. 

Often as I walk along the street in our town I will hear a friendly greeting of, “Hello” or “How is it going?”  I hear the voice and make an appropriate response.  It is only when the conversation is carried no further that I realize that the voice is addressing someone else on their cell phone. I sometimes wonder if the other person is looking at me with some bewilderment and I know that I am definitely confused by the exchange.

The other day there was another incident of speaking with a stranger.  Lyle and I had gone into a coffee shop where I approached the counter to order a take away coffee.  I had thought Lyle was right behind me.  The cost of the coffee came to a little more than I had in my hand. I turned to the person behind me, thinking it was Lyle, and said, “I’m a little short, do you have twenty cents?”

The person said nothing. I peered more closely at him and likely in the process, increased his surprise at my request.  This person was not Lyle.  Lyle had retreated to the other side of the coffee shop to look at the newspaper.  I am hoping that the person I accosted could see the badge I wear, stating that I have low vision.  It would perhaps explain my unusual behavior and request for money.

Yes, I do speak with strangers, although not always intentionally.

Currently Lyle and I are visiting family in Australia. This might explain why I asked for twenty cents as opposed to a Canadian quarter.  Australians use a twenty-cent coin, which is approximately the same size as a Canadian toonie, but definitely heavier.  Their fifty-cent coin is bigger and heavier yet again.  Lyle often complains of sagging pockets while we are here.