I had a walk up to Home Bargains in keighley this morning. I needed a few bits for my greenhouse. It was on the gardening isle that this chap and I started talking. From comparing prices we got to life experiences, cancer, family and the benefits of positive thinking. It turned out this guy was 84, though he looked 10 years younger. He’d been in the army and mentioned Borneo. He’d come to realise that whilst his life had been exciting as a soldier his wife had struggled on her own bringing up their five kids on a fairly remote farm. He cherished her now though. I reckon it was 30 minutes we stood talking and he said I’m going to go outside and feel embarrassed that I’ve told a complete stranger half my life story.
He was interesting and lovely and yes it might seem a little bizarre but it wasn’t. People in this town are more open and friendly than anywhere I’ve ever known.
What it boils down to is he had a story to tell. We all do. If he could write himself a blog like this or a book he could tell his life stories. Because as humans we need to know we are making a mark in some way. That it’s not all for nothing. Whilst I stood in keighley home bargains I listened to the rich story of a human condensed into a half hour and I felt privileged, humbled, a little bit sad but smiling, bigtime.
