Statuesqe Woman Waiting

STRIBLINGS
The StatuesqueWoman At Wal-mart
By Dee Stribling
Meeting strangers
Trying NOT to mind my own business

I am often amazed how strangers open up with just a little nudge. Yesterday at Wal-Mart on NW Expressway in Oklahoma City, inside the store while Margaret took the cart to get some lawn care stuff, I wheeled about in my motorized wheelchair.

In the candy shelves I was glad to see some low carb goodies. I selected a plastic jar of Russell Stover individually wrapped low carb chocolate candies. Then I parked in my motorized chair near an end shelf in the center isle to break the seal and enjoy a sweet (Splenda) snack.

As I opened the jar to get one of the candies, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a woman standing nearby. She was in her late sixties and also appeared to be waiting for someone. Her hands rested on the cart. She was looking straight ahead, almost like a statue, making an effort not to look my way. In fact her eyes never moved as a stream of shoppers passed in front of her. I would say she was not at all approachable, but I wheeled over anyway and offered her a candy.

She glanced at me, then down at the candy in my extended hand.

"Oh, I like chocolate, and these are individually wrapped (not contaminated by my fingers???)."

I explained that I was waiting for my wife.

She replied, "I am waiting for my husband. He is just over there." She motioned down the isle. I glanced but couldn't tell who he might be.

I figured any further conversation would make her nervous so I begin to move away.

As I was picking up speed I glanced over my shoulder and told her if he hadn't come back after awhile I might come back and give her another Russell Stover. She released a faint tentative smile.

She was appreciative in a subdued way, seemed a bit oppressed, almost reclusive.

Later after I had driven through the jewelry section for three or four minutes from a distance I spotted her with her husband in the check out lane.

She stood straight as a board, motionless, facing the front. He was a rotund man who anxiously shifted weight from one foot to the other. Unlike her he looked all around, not that he was looking for anyone, but in a protective way. It occurred to me that he might be abusive to her, or at the very least a controller.

I doubted she had revealed to him that a stranger had giver her a treat.
I met my wife at the check out line to put the candy with her other items.

I hope our brief encounter might have shed a little light into her life. In my mind I can still see my first view of her erect posture, dutifully waiting for her husband.

MY PRAYER – “Lord, I lift her up to your attention!”