No Snow! (but don't look too closely)

 

After church friend Nancy started talking w/ some of her nurse buddies that also attend this church.  I decided to go and stand near the door to the dining area.  That's the way we usually exit the sanctuary and Nancy has been known to get into the wrong car.  I'd just wait for her to finish her conversation.  An older lady was about to pass by but instead stopped and addressed me.  "Have you been here before?" she asked.  "Yes, but I'm from a town 30 miles east of here and don't make it over every Sunday." I replied.  She turned to a companion standing just behind her.  "I bet you know my friend here, She's from over that way."  I looked at the stylishly dressed and beautifully coiffed younger woman and said I didn't know her.  However, the younger woman replied we had met but she didn't know my name.   "Oh, I bet you know her from Barry's Lumber yard.  She works there." the older woman said.  I looked again at the younger lady.  It was unbelievable  that this person was the same cashier who had helped me pick out a flex-head ratchet earlier this week.  Every time I've seen her at Barry's she has something wrapped around her head and is dressed in old ill-fitting clothes (not unlike me to tell you the truth).  I blurted out what I was thinking, "You look a whole lot better than you usually do!"  Both the older and younger woman broke out in laughter.  Realizing what I had said aloud I apologized profusely.  They both assured me that I wasn't the first to make that comment and the younger woman hugged me to let me know it was all right. Yes, that's correct.  I actually let her hug me w/o cringing or stepping back. It's possible I may get over my touching issues but will probably develop a fear of making small talk.