I am creature of habit,
During the work week I get up at the same time, I have a very regimented routine, and I leave the house to hit the roadways at exactly the same time each day. I have timed my departure so as to beat the school buses for the high school. It gets me to work very early, however, if I leave after the buses, I am late. I would rather be early. I take the exact same route every day. And each day I pass the same people. I have been doing this for 11 years. I pass the lady who walks her 2 beagles, I pass the 2 elderly walkers who also pick up trash along the way, and I pass a woman who has all the physical qualities that I envy. She is tall, slim and wears Bermuda shorts and a windbreaker as if she were a model in some golf periodical. Although I have never had a conversation with any of these folks, we have done the "head nod" thing. Which, in my mind is the equilvalent to actually meeting these folks.
Recently, I was out of the office for 10 days, and for the next 5 altered my routine. So in essence, it was a half of a month before I got back to my usual routine.
The first Monday that I was back on schedule, the first "regular" that I passed was the 2 dog lady ( in my mind I always equate her with 3 Dog Night and giggle a little every time I think of it) and she gave me a look that said, "Hope everything is alright". I waved. Universal acknowledgement for everything is copacetic. Next, I passed the walkers who actually put up their hands to indicate that I needed to stop. I pulled over to them, lowered the passenger side window, and they asked, "Everything, OK" ? My answer, "Just fine, see you tomorrow." They nodded, and I drove on.
My last encounter was with the woman who looked like a mature model for a golf magazine, she held up 2 fingers in a v for victory sign, which told me that she understood that something had happened, but she was glad to see me back.
Isn't life odd, although I have never had a conversation with any of the folks I just wrote about, all of them were glad to see me when I returned to my normal schedule.
And I was glad to see them, it meant that everything was back to normal, everything was as it should be, and it meant that caring folks exist everywhere, whether you realize it or not. I think I am beginning to realize it!