Touching Lives

Walking Through An Emotional Life
by Dianne Roth

One would think....

For example, one would think that going in to get your teeth cleaned would be a mundane, unremarkable thing to do. And yet, having Karen clean my teeth was one of the highlights of my life. I am sure the entire dental office wondered, “What the heck?” when our laughter would echo throughout building. In fact, I wondered if there was something wrong with my life that I looked forward to getting my teeth cleaned.

What was it? Perhaps it was simply chemistry. With her hands in my mouth, we would share about dogs and kids and bits of life that, to us, seemed hysterically funny. We knew something special was happening because there were no peals of laughter coming from any of the other dental cleaning cubicals in the office. It was just us.

Perhaps, I just had no life at all.

And, getting one’s hair trimmed... what’s to look forward to? And, yet, everytime I make my appointment with Tani, it is like a reunion with an old friend. Today we laughed and we cried. Both of us, new grandparents with babies that needed life giving surgeries, shared from a genuine place deep in our hearts. We see each other a couple of times a year, but the depth of our sharing is amazing to both of us. Our souls have recognized kindred sprits. I look forward to my hair cuts.

Recently, I sold my old 1991 Toyota Corolla. While the buyer counted out the bills into my hand, I was sobbing. He took me into his arms and comforted me. When I pulled away, he asked me if I wanted to hug my car. How did he know to make this parting memorable to me?

And, when I paid off my house, the young man at the computer saw only another transaction until I asked if there was going to be champagne and fireworks. He glanced at me with some concern, but in a few moments he asked if balloons falling from the ceiling would be good enough. To this day, I love that young man for making a moment in my life come alive, making it special.

As we walk through our lives, we are touching people who are living lives that are as real as our own. The person who collects our garbage, the teller at the bank, the clerk at the fabric store, the gas station attendant, the life guard at the pool, the child on the trail. Each is a real person. Each one a deep, caring, friendly, important person.

I hope they make your life as rich as they make mine.

Dianne Roth is a teacher, mother, grandmother, and freelance writer. She lives in Oregon.