Introvert or Extrovert?

People who don't know me well think I'm an extrovert. People who know me very well, know that I am an introvert with an invisible 10 foot tall wall built around me. (If you know this about me, then you're one of the ones who has been given a ticket into the gate.) I don't talk to people just because they're there. I'm horrible at small talk. I only talk to people I know extremely well, am very comfortable with or to whom I actually have something to talk about. Today would have been shocking to those few that know me well. I talked to two complete strangers. I even exchanged names with them. Here's how it went:

The Leprechaun follows the rainbow
 to find his pot of gold

While my mom got her hair done at Smart Style, my grandson and I went grocery shopping. Having our cart filled and our purchases paid for by the time her hair was done, my little buddy and I sat on a bench and waited while my mom did her grocery shopping. As we were sitting there, a sweet little lady came up and asked if she could share my bench. I welcomed her to and moved over to give her room. After talking to the precious little one in my cart for a moment, she noticed my fingernails. We talked about why they were painted this way and she just thought it was so pretty. I said that I work with kids so I could get away with having my nails tell a story. She wondered where I worked. I told her I work at Jimtown Intermediate School. She became very excited. She went on to tell me that she spent nearly 30 years working at Jimtown Junior High School in the study hall room. Her name is Annie Ferrell (I'm not sure if I'm spelling her last name right or not). She retired from Jimtown in 1993 when her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. She has 5 great grandchildren, with the youngest being a 3 month old in Florida. She even showed me the Easter card she's sending the newest addition to the family. She lives in a nearby retirement home. When my parents finished shopping, it was time for me to go. As I got up from the bench, she asked me to greet my principal (who she knows well) and reached out to give me a hug. It was an amazing 20 minutes of getting to know Annie. I know she won't read this, but thank you, Annie, for being such a precious lady.

They go with everything!

We then went to Meijer in Dunlap. I think this might have been the first time in a year or more since I had been in that store. But I'll forever remember my visit today. At least, I sure hope I do! While waiting for my mom to come into the store, I was standing just inside the door. That's where I met Jackie R. She's a greeter there and noticed my shoes. I told her about Toms and how they send a pair to someone in a third world country for every pair that's purchased. She then saw my Bethel College shirt and asked if I had graduated from there. She said that a gentleman from her church went to Bethel also. She told me his name but I didn't know him. But we talked about the world's need for Jesus and how it's our job as followers of Christ to share His love and to show Him through the way we live our lives. Oh, by the way...I told Jackie my name also. Before I went to begin my shopping, we hugged each other and pledged to pray for one another.

While I realize my chances of ever seeing either of these women again are slim to none, I was truly blessed for the brief moments I spent with them today. Does this make me an extrovert all of a sudden? No. But perhaps the 10 foot wall has broken down a bit.