"I Have Always Depended On The Kindness Of Strangers"

Blanche DuBois says, "Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."

Isn't that a great line from Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire - the 1947 Pultizer Prize winning play? There are so many makes of this play and remakes into film. My favorite of course is the one with Vivien Leigh playing Blanche and Marlon Brando as Stanley. Vivien is the ultimate beautiful actress and drama queen, after all.

(Side Note: I thought for sure that if I were to have a second child and it turn out to be a girl, I'd name her Stella just so I can scream STELLLLLAAAAAA! at her someday.  But then Tori Spelling went and named her daughter that so forget it.  I also have a good friend considering Stella now for her baby.  Oh well).

Anyway, this particular quote is on my brain today because of the kindness that several strangers have shown me here in my new community.  I am already making friends, feeling welcome and I only just arrived in Pensacola last Friday. 

In the past two days, I have met two extremely nice ladies and their children.  They both wrote to me after seeing comments I made on a local online mom's group site.  These two women have been so kind and helpful to me.  They've shown me around the city, offered me tips on getting around, pointed out local places to try and much more.  I look forward to developing these relationships and hopefully turning them into lasting friendships.  And I hope I can return a kind favor to them someday.

Not only have these women been great.  Nearly everyone I have met has been outstanding.  I noticed that the checkout girl and bagboy at the grocery store seemed to really want me to have a good experience.  Even the man at the BP gas station told me to have a great day.  Now, how many gas station attendants take the time to speak to you?  Not many usually. 

Wow, is it always like this?  It's not Mayberry but it seems to be a mostly relaxed, kind-hearted community.

Being the new person in town can often be nervewracking.  Many cities have their own cliques.  If you don't have the right job, the right car or the right whatever, you just might not fit in.  I'm certain that this standard exists here in Florida and possibly every state and city in the U.S.  But so far, I am happy to say that I haven't experienced it here. 

I'm putting myself out there to meet new folks.  I'm taking a chance at talking to strangers.  And it is paying off so far. 

In fact, the lady at the bakery cracked jokes with me on Tuesday.  The hotel staff where we are staying is by far some of the most down-to-earth folks I've ever been around.  Our housekeeping lady is so quick to offer me additional towels and toiletries (Perhaps she is happy that we haven't asked her to clean our room yet.  She always comes by during Vivian's naptime).  The groundskeeper walked up to pet my dog saying how handsome he is.

Is it weird to already feel this at home in such a new place?  Is it divine intervention that brought us here when we didn't even look to Florida for our next move? 

I don't know.  I just want to relish in these happy-feeling moments and be grateful for the kindness that all these strangers are providing to my family and me. 

Perhaps later on I will feel differently.  Someone is bound to be rude or cut me off at some point.  Maybe I'll become cynical again and I won't like the people or living here after all.  I hope not but it could happen.

But for now, I will be thankful.   I say THANKS to all of you here who have shown me a shimmering spirit.  My head and my soul don't feel as lost because of you.

Here is another great quote by Blanche Dubois - "I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman's charm is 50% illusion." 

I believe that this welcome party in Pensacola is 100% real, with no illusions.  And I hope the friendly nature of people here will remain forever.

I encourage you to show kindness to strangers around you.  And if you meet a new person in your community, take the time to make him or her feel welcome.