Strange Kindnesses

like ms. dubois i feel that i’ve always found something in the strange kindness that can be brought on in just the exchange of money for a newspaper the asking of directions and being told where to go the conversation that comes from mutual boredom between two in a waiting room talk produced by mutual anxiety when crammed in a subway car, an elevator, a bus or an airplane (which inevitably relieves stress) or banter that comes when purchasing gas at a gas station--- it can come when you expect it but it can amaze you even then, when you tell tech support the problems with your cable television, your PC, your telephone (really any of these western conveniences) & you think that they are just playing the game but they are nice to the nth degree! the conversation between two people who have absolutely nothing to do with each other except for the context of that phone call, can be an eye opening experience--- if anything, it can illuminate the similarities in us which can only be found when we have no other vested interests or ulterior motives--- they are found in common politenesses wherein people usher families through when they are on their own or when they offer up the same help with directions or with a special skill that they possess which another does not. unlike blanche, i don’t depend on these moments of kindness, as one cannot depend on anything in this short existence, but i do find them interestingly unique & positive amongst the rest.