Taking the time to listen

Today The Hubster called me from work.  He'd forgotten his office keys and, while he could get into his office, he couldn't leave, and so could I please bring them to him?  Yes, certainly.  Oh, and please bring a salad, two protein bars and two 20 pound weights, so he can work out in his spare time?

Oh, yes, that's just what I wanted to do with my morning.

But I packed up and left.  I decided to make it a good thing and do a few errands on the way, and while I was driving, I called my mom to see if she felt like coming over and visiting with her grandkids.  So I could go shopping, of course.  Yay me, she agreed, and so I planned my shopping trip while driving.  I'd look for dresses, I decided, and maybe some new shoes.   I plotted all the way to his job.

Climbing out of my car, I slung the weights over my elbows and trudged into his office.  He was suitably happy and thankful to see me, and we chatted for a minute about my upcoming day.  "Oh!" he said.  "I forgot - I have a customer who wants to meet you.  You two have a lot in common.  She's the woman I told you about - the 70 year old who is caring for her 90 year old father?  She's across in the lounge.  Why don't you go see her?"

Ugh.  I hate it when he does this.  Hate meeting new people and having to strike up a conversation.  I especially hate it when he thinks that he knows what I've got in common with someone else, ESPECIALLY someone fourty years my senior.  I had places to go and clothes to buy.  Even if she had taken Kung Fu.

(I may or may not have mentioned in the past that The Hubster wasn't completely on board with me taking capoeira classes.  He only reluctantly came around when #1 he found out his older sister had taken karate years ago and #2 when he came to watch a class and realized it wasn't a bunch of guys hitting on me, but honest to God hard work.  This factors into this conversation.)

So we walked into the lounge and he greeted a woman and introduced us.  Right off the bat, she complimented me.  "Your husband gave me some of this granola you made - it is the best I've ever had!  I'm so impressed with you!  Six kids!  And he tells me that you are taking martial arts - I think that is so important and empowering for a woman.  I told him, don't ever discourage her from taking that class; it'll be the best thing she's ever done."  Wow.  I liked her immediately.  He left and we talked about her new car, and her father, who has Alzheimers and doesn't remember her.  She has full time care for him, but worries about the long term cost.  We discussed Kung Fu and her boyfriend, the Karate Master - an affair more than twenty years old, but one she was really vivid with details. 

I decided to give her my full attention - not space out as I sometimes do when I'm in a conversation with someone I didn't choose.  That was the best decision I made all day.  It was the most interesting range of topics, and at one point, she mentioned to me that she'd been a professional ballet dancer, back in the day.  She mused, almost to herself, "Not that you would understand the ballet aspect..."  Without saying a word, I rounded the table and placed my feet into a perfect first position - feet turned out into a straight line.  Her eyes widened and she clapped her hands.  "Oh, you did ballet!  My goodness, what an interesting person you are turning out to be!"  We shared memories of dance classes and I was able to impress her with the fact that I took classes with Danilova - probably one of my best ballet memories. 

All in all, it was a wonderful twenty minutes.  Twenty minutes that I almost didn't spend with a very interesting person.  I wonder how many other interesting people I've passed up, all in the name of my own plans and focus?

Very yummy and delicious Almond Maple Granola, courtesy of one of the bestest sister in laws ever

ALMOND MAPLE GRANOLA   Double Batch

6 c rolled oats                                                            12 Tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 c blanched slivered almonds                                     4 Tblspns dark brown sugar

1/2 c wheat germ                                                        1/2 c vegetable oil (canola)

7 to 14 oz flaked coconut                                            4 Tblpn warm water

2/3  c unsalted sunflower seeds                                    1 tsp salt

1 c pecan pieces                                                          1/3 c honey + or -

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees  Spray 2 large cookie sheets with brims with cooking spray

2. In large bowl toss oats almonds, wheat germ, coconut and sunflower seeds. In a separate bowl whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, oil, water and salt.  Pour the liquid over the oat and nut mixture and stir until evenly coated.  Spread into prepared pans.  Drizzle honey evenly over both sheets.

3. Bake 1 hour and 15 min in preheated oven stirring occasionally until evenly toasted.  Cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature.  I enjoy this tremendously over fresh fruit for breakfast. 

Comments

[Karianna]

I admit that I get uncomfortable when pushed into conversations as such, but so glad it turned out for the best!

[Stephanie C.]

Wow,what a lovely, bright lady. So glad you took the time to focus on her; I know you felt good after leaving. (Who wouldn't with all those compliments?)

[AJ]

I love that the Hubs was worried all the guys in the class would be hitting on you. ;)

[amy]

Beautiful reminder that we need to just take a few minutes out of our days to give others our full attention. Oh the places we'll go...

[Daisy]

She sounds like a fascinating woman -- and so do you. :)