{"id":210,"date":"2013-03-02T17:28:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-02T17:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kimberleybarker.net\/2013\/03\/taking-time-for-a-stranger\/"},"modified":"2021-11-06T16:21:36","modified_gmt":"2021-11-06T16:21:36","slug":"taking-time-for-a-stranger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kimberleybarker.net\/2013\/03\/taking-time-for-a-stranger\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking time for A Stranger"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I have been waiting for my silence to be broken and for inspiration to come to write once again.  <\/p>\n

And the inspiration came on a very snowy and cold night in February.  The streets were a bit tricky to drive on and warnings spread throughout the TV and radio stations about the NorthEast Blizzard coming to New York City, Boston and Rhode Island.  <\/p>\n

As I worked throughout the day watching the snow come down like rain, I yearned to be home in my kitchen cooking up a nice hot meal. As the clock struck 5, I headed to my car and drove toward the grocery store.  I had wanted to get a quick work out in but after trudging my way through slick road conditions, home was my destination of choice.<\/p>\n

I walked through the familiar doors of Wegmans, I must walk through them as much as I do my home and the gym, and noticed some people mulling around outside.  I couldn’t quite make out what was going on so I proceeded toward the produce.  As I walked toward the oranges, an older man stopped me and asked me if someone had gotten hurt outside. and that “He would have helped Her if He were out there.”  I smiled at him and proceeded to walk away when he asked me if I used Avon products. <\/p>\n

I stopped in my tracks and thought, Now why would this older gentleman ask me such an odd question?<\/em> I turned around and said “No, I use Estee Lauder.” 
Oh, Estee Lauder, my wife used Estee Lauder, he replied.  He continued on to say that he had  lost her about a year ago and that he  was going through a cabinet recently and found some Estee Lauder perfume she had worn sprayed it into the air.  “I shouldn’t have done that” he said quietly.<\/p>\n

I saw the pain in his heart come through his eyes. I reached out and touched his arm, looked into his eyes and said that I was sorry to hear that. <\/p>\n

He thanked me and proceeded to tell me that he needs a 50 year old woman or maybe a 45 year old woman to spend time with.  I almost choked as I just turned 50 not six weeks ago!  <\/p>\n

He went onto to say, “I work out every day young lady! Look at me, how old do you think I am?”  So, I told him that really I wasn’t too good at that game.<\/p>\n

He said I am 78! Do you have a boyfriend? Oh boy, I knew that was coming!<\/em> Although I didn’t have an “official” boyfriend, I said I did anyway.  I didn’t want to hurt the older mans feelings by turning him down for a date.  <\/p>\n

As we continued to chat, we turned to see beautiful tulip bulbs  set in glass vases that were for sale. They were bright red, orange\/yellow and pink.  I cherished the view and said that these sure made you feel good in the midst of a snowstorm.  <\/p>\n

This sweet ,older man told me that if I were his girlfriend, he would buy one for me.  I knew that came from his heart.<\/p>\n

I didn’t have a sweetheart to celebrate this Valentines Day with and nor did this older man, however, that brief encounter warmed my heart and I hoped it gave him a bit of joy as well.<\/p>\n

And so my dear friends and readers, although we don’t have that special someone in our lives that we wake up to each day, take the time to talk to a stranger, give a smile to someone, surround yourselves with those that lift you up.  Love will fill your heart.<\/p>\n

Kimberley<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have been waiting for my silence to be broken and for inspiration to come to write once again.  And the inspiration came on a very snowy and cold night in February.  The streets were a bit tricky to drive on and warnings spread throughout the TV and radio stations about the NorthEast Blizzard coming to New York City, Boston and Rhode Island.  As I worked throughout the day watching the snow come down like rain, I yearned to be home in my kitchen cooking up a nice hot meal. As the clock struck 5, I headed to my car and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[500,501],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-inspiration-blog"],"yoast_head":"\nTaking time for A Stranger - Kimberley Barker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kimberleybarker.com\/2013\/03\/taking-time-for-a-stranger\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Taking time for A Stranger - Kimberley Barker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I have been waiting for my silence to be broken and for inspiration to come to write once again.  And the inspiration came on a very snowy and cold night in February.  The streets were a bit tricky to drive on and warnings spread throughout the TV and radio stations about the NorthEast Blizzard coming to New York City, Boston and Rhode Island.  As I worked throughout the day watching the snow come down like rain, I yearned to be home in my kitchen cooking up a nice hot meal. 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