“I love you.”
Strong arms hold me in a fierce and joyful embrace. Eyes shine down, brimming with laughter. The handsome, bearded face smiles into mine.
“Will you marry me?”
No, I’m not dreaming. Though it may count as the quickest proposal in history. I tend to like to know someone for more than 30 seconds…
I had been minding my own business, trying to get in and out of the supermarket in record time when I was stopped by two young men, possibly in their mid thirties. The smaller one touched my arm and spoke, in desperate tones.
“You are a woman.”
This, I thought, was fairly self-evident and required no answer.
“A pretty one too,” said the giant Adonis, eyes twinkling with mischief. Ooh, how nice.
“We need to you settle a debate…” Advice on the tastes of womankind in general was asked and given… a sort of either/or situation. Apparently I sided with Adonis, and was rewarded with both hug and proposal.
A brief encounter, of no consequence, noteworthy simply because it made me smile.
It doesn’t take a lot, of course. I would far rather smile than frown and will generally do so just for the sheer joy of living. But you can’t beat the spontaneous smiles that arise from sharing a moment with another human being.
What made the moment stand out was not the laughing exchange of words, not even the compliment, but the momentary lack of any masks or barriers between three strangers. It is unusual, sadly, for strangers to approach each other, much less to talk, smile and laugh with each other for no real reason.
It struck me what a shame that is, and how many barriers to potential joy we put in our own way. We are so hemmed in by the way we are raised, our national character, perhaps, particularly in England with its traditional stiff upper lip and polite but distant smile.
I remember smiles…the ones that come from within and light up the eyes, illuminating the face that wears it and that of the one to whom it is directed. The eyes may be alight with mischief and laughter, or with gentleness and kindness, but the genuine smiles that come from the depths of being do not fade. They are healing, infectious and their beauty remains, from the first smile of an infant to the time when age has overlaid them with a tracery of lines.
June 2013
Reposted for the launch on Ronovan’s BeWoW venture.
Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
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What a lovely moment. Thanks for sharing it!
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Pure, simple laughter, Barb 🙂
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Yes… silly things like that light up a day 🙂
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I can’t believe you told our story. sigh And now everyone knows how I stalked you around the supermarket and my Adonis friend got the better of the deal. 🙂 Loved it.
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LOL… I couldn’t help myself 😉
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Moments of interaction, smiles and humaneness. Lovely! 🙂
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A nice few moments 🙂
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Brought this back. http://www.freehugscampaign.org I remember being in Carnaby Sreet three of four years ago and a woman had a Free Hugs sign. I had to smile. I made a cheesy joke about how awful the illegal imprisonment of Hugs was which went right over her head. Still, you’re right. It makes you smile..
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There shouuld never be any restraint on hugs 🙂 They should be available on the NHS 🙂
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One of those rare encounters that light up your day, or week, or month… My mother was someone who could talk to anyone, and usually did. I’m like that, as is my husband. We’ve met some incredible people, just striking up a conversation. Loved this story, Sue.
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You miss a lot if you won’t open up to the people you meet, don’t you? I’m a relatively shy person in many ways, but I’ll always talk to people. Odd that!
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Perfect topic for today! Thanks Sue! ♡♡
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Always happy to share a smile 🙂 xx
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me as well, and I’ve been a bit broody lately. I think you may have found the solution to the issue ❤
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Now that sounds intriguing 🙂
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Good one. Lovely photo of you.
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Thank you, Paulette!
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Thanks for sharing that lovely moment and your beautiful reflections on smiles…:)
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🙂
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Thanks for the smile! 🙂
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Always happy to share smiles 🙂
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Oh! I am just so smiling over this!
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Nice, wasn’t it 🙂 The encounter had me smiling for ages 🙂
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‘It struck me what a shame that is, and how many barriers to potential joy we put in our own way.’ So true, Sue. It is insane what we put on ourselves and what we miss when we are stuck in our own little world. Thanks for the reminder to smile more. Our faces always look better when we do! Yours is lovely!
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Thank you! *smiles again*
I always wanted my wrinkles to be the right ones when I get older 🙂
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What wrinkles? 😉
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I’m working on them 😉
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Ah, wisdom lines. 🙂
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More likely to be laughter 🙂 But I’ll remember that for the escapees 😉
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Really nice!
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🙂 It made me smile 🙂
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Well, Sue, that doesn’t happen every day. It seems I’ve always gone to the wrong supermarkets. 😀
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Me too as a rule obviously! 🙂
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