Synopsis: My brunette companion and I parted with quick smiles, not even knowing each other's names. For a few brief minutes, we had quickly connected. And thanks to that surprise connection with a fellow human being, my day was just that much brighter. I knew there was one more person out there who cares passionately enough about life to share some pet peeves that had to do with safety and valuing human life.

Every so often, I experience an event that renews my faith in the ability of people to connect. The other day I was dashing to the dentist to be in time for an appointment for some minor but detested surgery, when I whipped into a parking space. Upon getting out of my car, I realized that I had truly whipped and zipped and that my car was not perfectly between the lines and was instead parked at quite an angle. In a hurry, I stood looking at my car, wondering whether or not to take the time to park properly and align it with all the others.

As I stood there puzzling my few seconds of indecision, a young mother with her two sons, perhaps six and eight, soothingly said, “It's OK, your not blocking anyone and you are not in a handicapped space.” She went on, “I hate when people park in those designated spaces. Imagine if someone who really needed a handicapped space had to park and couldn't because someone who didn't need it was already there.” We knew we were on the same wavelength and felt an instant camaraderie. By simply reaching out to comfort someone, she had initiated a connection between us. Without missing a beat, we started walking towards the medical building together, feeling lucky to have found that there are other people that share our frustrations.

“I find that behavior awful too, so inconsiderate,” I replied. “And, you know what else bugs me? People who push their baby carriages out in front of them in a snow storm where a car might skid. Don't they realize that just because they are still on the sidewalk, the carriage could be hit?” By the look on her face, I knew I had found a compatriot. She countered. “And I teach my boys that when a car comes they have to watch to see if the driver is watching them, not only if the car is close or far. They never teach that in school. And another thing,” She couldn't get enough of my supportive ear, “I drive a SUV and no matter how careful I am, as I back up, smaller cars rush to get around me. No one seems to have patience nowadays. I need a large car and I am a careful driver, but don't they realize, in their haste, I can't see them? Imagine if I ever hurt someone!?”

By this time we had reached the elevator--instant best friends. She was talking to her sons and forgot to push the button for her floor as I carefully pushed mine so that I wouldn't be late. For, being late is another pet peeve I have. It is disrespectful to arrive late to someone whose livelihood runs on scheduled appointments - even if I didn't want to be there. Actually, being late is pretty disrespectful altogether, but that diatribe is for another time and place.

The ensuing elevator ride was filled with similar rants, as we discussed the rampant disrespect and disregard for life in the world today. Careful to be polite amidst our complaints of rudeness, we tried not to interrupt each other with our enthusiastic additions to the list. What a relief it was to talk to someone that could understand my frustrations - and how rare it is to make that connection!

My brunette companion and I parted with quick smiles, not even knowing each other's names. For a few brief minutes, we had quickly connected. And thanks to that surprise connection with a fellow human being, my day was just that much brighter. I knew there was one more person out there who cares passionately enough about life to share some pet peeves that had to do with safety and valuing human life.

I smiled and suddenly going to the dentist really didn't matter at all. I thank my unnamed connection for her gift.

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