This past spring we took an extended road trip. With multiple visits in our plans we decided that driving would be less complicated and cheaper than flying. Besides, we enjoy seeing the countryside between our destinations.
This time we took a trip through the Southeast visiting friends and relatives along the way. I take great delight in watching the expressions of horror on their faces when I announce that we will "only be able to stay for three weeks." It always makes me remember a humorous quote on the subject: "Fish and relatives begin to smell after three days."
When we start out on one of these journeys, there is always much to talk about as we hop from one destination to the next. There is something new to see around every bend in the road. As the day and miles wear on, my copilot occasionally starts to nod off and soon she is off on her own little trip into what I refer to as "la-la land." It is then that I become lost in my thoughts and speculate if I will discover any new column material as we travel across the country.
One of our stops included a visit with my wife's folks who live in a delightful retirement community in North Carolina. As one might expect, most of the residents are older than 65 and have ample time to explore their interests.
Being an early riser, I enjoy starting my morning sitting at the kitchen table, reading the local newspaper and savoring my first cup of coffee of the new day. From my vantage point, I could see the street in front of their home.
The number of couples and singles who enjoyed walking as part of their daily exercise impressed me. Throughout the morning there was a steady stream of seniors walking by.
One morning my father-in-law pointed out a particular couple and he told me how they would rarely would speak to anyone they met on the street, even if they were spoken to. He mentioned that the woman in particular never smiled or made eye contact with anyone. The man also seemed hesitant to strike up a conversation with those whom they passed. From my observations at the kitchen table, they appeared to be very unhappy folks. In the days that followed we saw them walk by regularly and we never saw them visit with anyone.
My wife and I also went on walks while we were there. We wanted to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather that was far different from the ice and snow we left behind in Michigan.
While on one of our jaunts, I saw the same couple about a block down the street and they were headed our way. I told my wife that we should fabricate a story and tell her parents that we met the mystery couple and how they stopped to chat with us. We would tell them how friendly and happy they were and how they both smiled as we visited. My wife, being a true Pollyanna, said that my story would be stretching the truth.
I, on the other hand, could see how it would create a stir and would provide interesting conversation and speculation for our family long after we had made our way home.
As we neared the couple, we smiled at them and wished them a good morning. To our great surprise, they stopped in their tracks and returned the greeting! They asked us if we were new in the neighborhood and where we were from. After explaining that we were just visiting, we talked about where we live and where they had come from. We exchanged small talk about the retirement community and the beautiful weather.
In short, what I had wanted to fabricate about them in fun, actually happened. They were not grouchy or mad at the world. They were open and friendly. Perhaps our new acquaintances were just somewhat shy. When we returned from our walk I related our morning's experience to Mom and Dad who were astounded and questioned the validity of my tale. Had my wife not been a witness they wouldn't have believed me.
I guess the lesson learned here is that you really can't judge a book by its cover. We need to give everyone a chance to show us what he or she is truly like on the inside. Sometimes it is we who get the surprise.
Ed Hungness and his wife owned their cottage on Fife Lake for six years before moving there after his retirement in 2005. He can be reached at edhungness@yahoo.com.
For more of Ed's columns, log on to record-eagle.com/edhungness.
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