Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

The worse thing about depression is you isolate yourself.  Staying in the house reinforces your isolation.  Going out in the sunlight is therapeutic.  All of a sudden you are exposed to different and other worlds.

Even if you do not talk to others (and this is hard not to do), you realize your world is not the only world.  There are multiple universes around you evolving.  A simple thing like going to the post office or the local supermarket can make a difference in your life.  You rub elbows with other people.

You hear snatches of conversations even if it is not directed at you.  It makes a difference.  Others have struggles in their life.  It is so easy to magnify your problems.  Going out exposes you to other peoples’ lives.

And there are those who have fractured relationships–marriages that are breaking up or simply for one reason or another are presently under a lot of stress.  And you overhear conversations that reflect this.

You are not alone.  You may find yourself reaching out to others.  And none of this would have happened if you continued to isolate yourself.  Go out.  It matters.  And reach out to others.  Your problems may shrink in proportion to others.  Isolation is never good.

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Everyone has a story.  You just have to stop and listen and observe.  Every one tells their story differently.  All the drama is there.  You often find out their tales in bits and pieces.  Very seldom will theirs completely unravel.

Most of the time you gets little pieces of theirs.  In little chunks.  Maybe ten, fifteen seconds at a time.  They do not have to know you.  It is hard not to reveal anything of yourself.

Your dress, manner and conversation speaks volumes.  You just have to listen.  Some people reveal triumph, others tragedy.  Others failure.  All you have to do is keep your eyes and ears open.

Others peoples’ story are always unraveling in front of you.  You have to take the time to listen.  That is all it takes.  A little patience and time.

Tags: bits and pieces, conversation, drama, everyone has a story, failure, keep your eyes and ears open, observe, patience, peoples' stories, reveal yourself, stop and listen, take time to listen, tales, tell your story, time, tragedy, triumph, your dress, your manner
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Sharon, the waitress, at the local diner is more than a waitress.  I found out she has worked there more than twenty years.  It is her calling.  She has on-going relationships with her customers.

She knows I often take my toast and give it to my dogs.  Today she told me, “I do not give my dogs extra food for they get fat enough on just the dog food I feed them.”  Not her exact words but a good paraphrase.

She is there (in the diner) for the long haul.  She loves her job and lives nearby.  I found out today her squash is not doing well in her garden.  Their buds keep falling out prematurely.  Maybe there was too much rain the last four weeks.

I am not extravagant with my tips but I tip accordingly; I give her a decent tip depending on my order.  I want to let her know I appreciate her excellent service.

She is a one woman show, usually she is the only waitress on and there is one cook.  In the early morning sometimes the waitress does every thing including cooking.

I eavesdrop on the conversations at the nearby tables.  It is amazing sometimes what I overhear.  Sometimes I do not talk at all.  I always sit at the counter.  Once in awhile I get into a brief conversation if someone sits nearby.

I keep returning to the diner for the coffee is good, the price of the food is inexpensive and the hash browns are always tasty and I enjoy the brief contact with the waitresses.  My order is usually very simple.  Eggs up.  Once in awhile I order a glass of orange juice.

Of course I go to the trouble of learning all the different waitresses’ names.  There is nothing like a local diner to make you feel wanted and erase some of the loneliness of the morning.  My wife is never up at that hour.

Tags: coffee, conversation, cook, customers, dog food, dogs, early morning, eavesdrop, eggs, excellent service, feel wanted, garden, give my toast to my dogs, hash browns, her calling, local diner, morning loneliness, my wife, orange juice, pets, sit at the counter, squash, tips, waitress
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