Liver and Green Bananas

Image from Diana Fayt's flickr set. (link)

Today I put on a baseball cap and sunglasses and went to the grocery store. It's Saturday. Like most Americans who work too much, I have too much to do in too little time. I was breathlessly clicking off a list in my head. As I walked toward the store, a small voice shook me out of my selfish preoccupation. "Honey? Honey?"

The source of the voice was an elderly woman slumped over a grocery cart. I looked in her direction and she smiled. "Can you help me up the hill?" she asked. I walked over to her, put my arm around her, with the other arm I pushed the cart. Together we braved the hill and wind.

Did you walk here? I asked. Yes. Do you want a ride? No. I like the exercise. I'm 84 years old. I marveled at her glowing skin and I told her so. I feel so tired, I confessed, feeling a little ashamed because I am half her age.

She told me to eat liver and green bananas. Then she hugged me, and held on for quite a while. It was the nicest hug I'd had in a long time. With no agenda. I once read that we need eight hugs a day just to maintain good mental health. For healing, much more are required. I'm definitely in a deficit.

I slowed down and attempted to enjoy the mundane. So much of my life is wasted hurrying. As I left the store, a man with blue-black skin and sad eyes asked me for money. I looked deep into his eyes and I did not look away, I told him I did not have money to spare. He looked deep into my eyes with love, grateful for the connection. I felt strangely comforted.

I drove away and the irony hit me. I was trying to be invisible when I went to the store. Two people - who society regularly treats as though invisible - caused me to slow down. And the ultimate irony - how can it be that there are so many people in the world and yet so many are lonely? Maybe these two were angels. They definitely caused me to pause.

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Update 1/14/10: Due to the severe economic climate, the grocery store described in this story has closed. There are many seniors living near there in a HUD building. Most don't have cars. I cannot help but wonder how they get their groceries now.