Just a minute of my time...

Meet Rudy

Stranger #9

We met in California, a chance meeting, since I hadn't planned on looking for "strangers" during our travels. But here was someone who amazed us as we stood outside my aunts house while he ran up the massive hill that was her street.  

We had seen him earlier when we were driving home, amongst the many other active people throughout the San Francisco area.  Running  up and down some of these roads that would be tough enough to walk up!  We struck up a conversation about just that, running up these hills.

He was eager to chat, taking a break from the massive hill, to share with us a little about himself and his running.  See, Rudy has been a runner since he was 23 years old.  He told us the day he left college, he looked back at his school buddies who were out of shape and said I am going to take control of my life, of my body and he began running.  He's never looked back... and at age 74 he still runs 8 miles a day and LOVES it.  Including these giant hills of San Francisco!

Rudy was an inspiration in so many ways, on top of running up these hills, you just have to see these hills he was running up with ease.... He also informed us of his  recent heart attack in November, and said running saved his life.  As fit as he had been all his life, with his resting heart rate so low, he was told by the doctors it saved him. After surgery and when he was ready, the doctor said get back out there and continue running, and so he did!

We me up with Rudy again the next morning when Chelsea and I walked up the giant hill of my aunts street to a track where we could get a run in.  At that time he was walking his daughters dogs, and we got to chat some more.  He was thrilled about me taking his picture, and I told him what a wonderful impression he had left on my daughter and I.

He just lived around the corner, up another couple hills from my aunt ...and funny thing, she had never met him.

 

 

Meet Teresa

Stranger # 8

We ran along together for a good part of the 10K, cheering each other on when we each took turns passing one another.  She was so motivational and fun to run with and we had never met before!  

Near the end of the run I took off and pushed it harder than I had in any race and ended up finishing before her.  When she did cross the finish I watched her walk off thinking I need to talk to her, she really helped me in this race!  And then I couldn't find her again and I was disappointed that I didn't take advantage of meeting her before.

Just before we were ready to leave I saw her across the square and told Joel I had to catch up with her.  Turned out she was so excited to chat and this was her first race ever!  How awesome is that, she did amazing!

Meet Jamie

Stranger #7

We met in Wisconsin on our second visit to Red Mango!  She was a blast to work with while deciding what we wanted to eat and continued to chat with us when she finished work.  We hung out for a bit to eat our yogurt, chat and avoid the rain outdoors.

It was also Jamie's last day at Red Mango, so what a chance meeting was that?  She is a full time dog trainer or as her card reads behaviorist of her company called Bad Bettie!  She loves animals, obviously, and is an exciting, fun spiriting gal that you can't help but to gravitate towards!

I think the shoes say it all!

Meet Ray

Stranger #6

I know you've seen him before... but we hadn't formerly met and we had some good conversation on this day and that's the most important part... isn't it?

he's the adorable farmer up the road, and we are standing in the rain with asparagus for a buck a bundle talking about farming and how long he's been doing it.

Ray says he's been farming all his life, "as far back as he can remember" were his words.  His parents had a farm and then he and his brother took over the farm and now he shares some land with his brother that they farm together. Of course he also has some of his own land that he takes care of.  And he loves every minute of it!

He's always happy, he's always wearing his suspenders and a long sleeve shirt and you will always find him tinkering with something on the farm.  Well, almost always!

He sells strawberries (you pick em) for $1 a pint, asparagus for $1 a bunch and if you catch them before they are gone, raspberries.

This man is always smiling, always happy and he makes me happy just seeing him!

 

 

Meet Daryl

Stranger #5

     He is Zach's friend's father and we finally got to meet. He was a sweet and quiet man who doesn't complain.  He says why would I, you just make do with what you have.  He was born with Cerebral Palsy and says he can lift just about anything, he just can't walk well.  So he does the best he can.

I love meeting people like Daryl, they change your attitude about life, about complaining about those little things, and remind you to find happiness in everyday. 

Meet our friend up the road

Stranger #4

asked not to be photographed

     I did it; I stepped out of my comfort zone and stopped to visit the man up the road.  Everyday as we drive past his house he is sitting out front just watching the traffic go by.  The kids and I always comment on how we love this man, he reminds us to slow down in life and so today I slowed down and pulled in. I had just come from working out so I wasn’t looking my best, but I knew if I didn’t stop now, I would find another excuse not to stop later.

     He looked at me inquisitively as I walked toward him as he sat there in his plastic chair on his front lawn.  I introduced myself and told him I live up the road and while I was sharing who I was he pulled the chair next to him up and invited me to sit.

     I began with a basics introduction of myself and asked about him.  He’s a quiet older man, quite reserved with a hearty laugh. He didn’t want his picture taken but enjoyed the conversation.  He had a stroke 20 years previous so his right side of his body did not work well and the left side of his brain also suffered, although from our conversation I could not tell.  His wife had left him after the stroke and has since passed away.  He has three grown children, two in Ohio area and one in Indiana.  He fought during wartime with the U.S. Air Force serving four-years and was glad to get out.

     He asked a lot about me, why I wanted to put myself out there and learn about other people, about my kids, my husband.  Funny, I’m not sure why I want to put myself out there.  I guess it’s a part of finding a connection with those around us.  He liked my answer and enjoyed our conversation. 

      He said I wish more people stopped to talk but we are all rushing through our days trying to fit everything in.

 

Meet Sarah

Stranger #3

On a recent visit to the new Main Street Cupcakes in Medina I was privileged to meet Sarah. 

Besides for providing the best cup cakes in town Sarah's sweet disposition will capture your heart. When I asked her to share something about herself, I could see she was hesitant. She asked if it had to be happy, and I wondered what she meant? And then she shared the biggest heart breaker of all and a link that joined us which we would have never known.  She had recently lost her son...

I remember that feeling.  Do I say it or don't I?  I want to talk about my son, but sometimes it's not the right person to tell.  I'm glad she did

We really don't know the heartache those around us are suffering each day as we hurry though our busy lives.  Sarah is just another reminder...

31 Strangers

Meet Tara...

Stranger #2

If you stopped in Sully's, a local Irish pub in Medina, to grab a soup and sandwich for lunch like my sister and I do, you might be lucky enough to meet Tara.

Tara is the bubbly waitress at Sully's that you will see buzzing through the restaurant as she takes orders and chats with the regulars. She is easy to talk to and reminds me of Joan Cusack in her looks and voice!

When I asked Tara something about herself that others wouldn't know. She says she plays the banjo.  I should have known she'd hit me with something totally off the wall!

If your ever in town you have to check out Sully's and meet Tara!

 

31 Strangers

Meet Linda...

 

Stranger  #1

We met at Milts gym and hit it off immediately! We had so much in common our banter just flowed! Within minutes I felt comfortable talking with her. She was just getting back to putting herself first, after raising 4 children - her youngest 15.

We began our conversation with the usual chatter in a gym about exercise, weight loss and running. She used to be a runner and when she realized I had lost weight since running thought maybe she too could run again one day soon.

 She's a teacher also, and that conversation came up once I revealed that I was starting back to school.  She was thrilled and began asking questions about what I wanted to do, offered to give advice on my writing and wants me to share with her class about 31 day project so that she can use it for her theme in class this year.

I wanted to start posting my project and while we have seen each other a few times since our first meeting, she requests I catch her before her work out for a picture....

Oh Joy is where I got the idea of 31 strangers!  You can read more about her in this months Artful blogger, one of my favorite magazines!

31 strangers in 31 days

I read about this in my favorite magazine Artful blogger.  It is one of those magazines I read from cover to cover... it is that good!

The other morning I was only a few pages in when I got to reading Oh Joy's blog story and her post on meeting 31 strangers in 31 days grabbed my attention. I didn't get much further as I was heading out to get in my morning run, so out the door I went.

But the whole time running it kept nagging at me that this would be good for me in so many ways.  

1. Push me out of my comfort zone
2. work on my photography
3. sharpen my journaling

And once I finished running a conversation was started with my first stranger.  It was an easy conversation and a life changing one too.  

The rules to my 31 strangers is really there are no rules.  I would like to do it in 31 days, but if that's not possible I'm okay with that.  If I meet more than one person in a day then that too is okay since not everyday am I going to be out in the world.  Oh Joy, where I got the idea from may have more rules if you are a rule follower.

My first stranger... her name is Linda and you can learn more about her as I begin my 31 strangers in 31 days.