No Shoes, No Service?

I was riding the bus home after a long day at work and heard an older woman about five to six seats away talking LOUDLY on her cell phone.  She was talking as if her cell phone was a bull horn, or as if she was acting out a one-woman-play called, “Where You At?”   She was disturbing the peace…mostly, my peace.  But hold on to your hats, ladies and gentleman, that’s not all.  I looked down and she didn’t have on any shoes.  Just white socks!  Let the judging begin:

Really?!?! What state of mind do you have to be in to not wear shoes on public transportation?  Now, I’m questioning the validity of her cell phone conversation.  Was there even anyone on the other end of that call? Did NO SHOES mean NO SERVICE?

Then she got off the bus.  When she exited, there was a younger woman waiting for her.  The younger woman had just put her cell phone away, then hugged the older woman and gave her a pair of shoes.  They both sat on the bench while the older woman put on her shoes.

Hello everyone….my name is James Singleton and I’m going to hell.

I stopped judging because I started thinking about how similar the older woman talking on the phone was to me and pretty much everyone I know.

No matter what…no matter who she was (or how loudly she was talking) – she WANTED connection.  More importantly, she DESERVED connection.  On the other end of that phone – there was someone who cared.

In this rare case – no shoes, meant service.  It also meant connection.