Wandering

It was 3:00 in the afternoon and I reviewed the contents of my purse. 

Wallet and phone? Check. 

Pen and paper? Got it.

Food? Duh!

Sunscreen? Ha. Definitely.

Ready to lose all sense of time and direction? I guess.

I set out to lose myself in the nooks and crannies of Provo, Utah. In the hot afternoon sun, oily sunscreen dripped down my neck and the breeze whizzed in between my legs. I fought with my human habit to plan out directions and acted merely on instinct as I weaved my way through neighborhoods I have never visited. I admired the eclectic collection of architecture and even snapped a shot of a darling, colonial house.

I made an effort to notice the hidden beauties of the neighborhoods, like the cloud that resembled Bing Bong from Inside Out and a charming landscape adorning a small cottage-like house. Not knowing how long I had been gone nor where I was, I found myself next to a church building. (Only in Utah, haha) I set out directionless, and yet, I ended my destination here? Interesting. Knowing that the view of the mountains meant eastward, I began my walk home. Along the sidewalk, I saw a small lady surrounded by binders and papers on the lawn. 

No, it can't be.

I recognized a petite, 60-something polynesian lady whom I often sat next to while doing assignments in the law library. When she often asked for help at the front desk, she spoke with an unidentifiable accent, and honestly, I craved to know her story. However, usually pressed with time to finish my assignment, I never talked to her. 

And there she sat.

Should I talk to her? Nah, she looks busy.

Pause.

But, hey, I'm not wandering for nothing! Carpe diem, Lauren! CARPE DIEM!

There I sat with her on the lawn. We started with small chat. A little about her:

Sandy. 61 years old. Of Hawaiian and Japanese descent. Has a grown daughter in Colorado. Lives in an apartment on her own in Provo. Has an incredible knowledge about food combining and the pharmaceutical drug abuse. Knows her stuff, when it comes to science. Mother and father are deceased. Doing BYU Independent Study. On a quest to prove a legal case.

She's amazing!

We talked about life, the gospel, science and how she believes that nearly all problems in the world are derived from diet. Problems with intimacy? Diet. Problems with moods and emotions? Diet. Homosexual tendencies? A hormonal imbalance that results from a pregnant mother's diet.

I finally sensed that it was time to return home, so we said our goodbyes. I walked home edified. We can learn so much from strangers! I never would have had that positive experience if I had not taken the time to wander and talk to Miss Sandy.