I stopped at a SuperWalmart today to do some shopping and met a husband and wife who were retired and on their way to Florida from Michigan. The wife happened to reach down and pick up 2 bananas that had fallen on the floor. I said to her, "You know, most people wouldn't pick those up." She said, "No, most would just walk by. That says something about this country."
Well, we got into a great conversation about how we all felt the country was going to hell in a hand cart and moving dangerously towards socialism. They were VERY angry at all the lies Obama and his crowd were telling and, like me, had the opinion that too many people wanted something for nothing--to not have to work and have the government take care of them. We agreed that it made for a lazy population, that we weren't raised that way--that hard work and honesty were becoming the kind of traits that were not part of the American way of life.
Yes, we had quite a conversation, but the 3 of us agreed that we needed to keep plugging along and lead by example--to pick up the stray banana, chat with a stranger, and always do the right thing.
Close to the end of the conversation (groceries were beckoning) I saw a young woman with a t-shirt that said "Palin '08" walking down the aisle and pointed it out. I commented that as long as I still see things like that I'll have hope.
So the next time you're out at a Walmart, stop and pick up the stray banana on the floor or clothes that have fallen off the rack (I always do that) and have the courage to get in a conversation with a stranger. You just might find someone who shares your values.
