People Who Smile At You (thanks Frank)

(This is my post for Friday. I was too exhausted last night to write it.)

Quick backstory on this one:

One of my very best friends lives in the Bay Area. She grew up in the midwest and went to Creighton with me so she's really a midwesterner regardless of what her drivers license says. Anyway, she was visiting this summer and we were sitting outside eating ice cream. A woman ran by while out for a jog and smiled at us. I smiled and said "hi". Then this happened:

Sara: "Do you know her?"

Me: "Nope. I've never seen her before in my life."

Sara: "Oh; that's right. I forgot that people smile at complete strangers here."

Yes. Yes, we smile at complete strangers here. And that is a good thing. Today, while walking into HyVee an old (really old) woman stopped to talk to me about the drastic turn in our weather. And when I was waiting in line to check out the (old) woman in front of me turned around, looked at the 3 items in my hand, and said, "You go ahead, honey". I smiled. She smiled. We smile. And I'm glad we do. People can bash the midwest all they want; it won't change the fact that we smile.