I recently had an experience that truly spoke to the bonds we share as human beings.  It happens to all of us, every day, in banks, grocery stores, at school, or work.  Really, it can happen anywhere, at anytime.  Complete strangers, bonding over a mutual frustration, annoyance, tragedy or joy.  Sheer happenstance puts you there, at that time and place, with that particular stranger, or strangers, when any random occurrence can bond you together, if only briefly.

My random occurrence took place at a gas station, and it was a mutual annoyance that had bonded me to my stranger.  My stranger was a guy, around my age, fashionably dressed, attractive, and obviously in a hurry.  I, a 30-something mom, dressed in my comfy’s with no makeup and sporting my reading glasses for fashion, was also in a hurry.  (Really, who isn’t?!).  There we were, he & I, vastly different, and completely unknown to each other, in line to pay…behind that guy…you know the one.  That careful, indecisive person.  Nothing wrong with that, unless, of course, you wind up in line behind them!  (And I suppose, at one time or another, we’ve all been that slowpoke at the front of the line…but that’s neither here nor there for the purposes of this particular story!)  He was trying to choose a car wash package, and was looking for the best deal.  The cashier, bless her heart, had the patience of Job, and was carefully and politely answering all of his questions.  I caught the eye of my stranger, and he smiled, shook his head and rolled his eyes, gesturing at Mr. Indecisive.  I smiled back, and nodded in acknowledgment, shrugging my shoulders.  The slowpoke at the counter carried on, back and forth between car wash packages, the cashier scanning one after another, giving him prices and options.  The bottom line, which she kept repeating, was that there was only a $2.00 difference from one to the other.  Yet, Mr. Indecisive persisted. 

By now, my stranger and I were sighing in frustration, rolling our eyes back and forth, barely suppressing our giggles at each new question from the slowpoke, as the line behind us grew longer.  I muttered, “It’s $2.00, I’ll pay it if it will get you moving faster!”.  My stranger covered his mouth to hold in the laughter.  “I’ll pay for the whole thing!”, he whispered back.  By now, we were scarcely able to hide our chuckles from the source of our amusement, as we made various, covert comments back and forth.  Finally , Mr. Indecisive seemed to make a decision!  My stranger and I sighed with relief, and gave each other one last smirk before turning our attention towards the cashier to pay for our own purchases.  But we weren’t quite through, my stranger and I!  As our slowpoke was paying for his car washes, we heard the cashier ask if he had a Points Card.  He responded no.  And then it happened…our ever so patient cashier asked, “Would you like one?”.  Oh no!  Immediately, my stranger and I turned to each other, yet again, and as we dissolved into fits of laughter, he shook his head over and over mouthing, “No, no, no!”, while I clasped my hands in prayer and mouthed, “Dear God, please, please, please!”.  Mr. Indecisive had hesitated just long enough for this exchange to take place, and then we heard him say, “No.”, one more time.  We both collapsed in feigned relief, and after one last smile and nod of acknowledgment in the other’s direction, my stranger paid for his gas and left.