*Peppers and Zen*

[Absolutely*Kate]

I was troubled, inside kind of troubled, hide-it-from-the-world kind of troubled, the worst kind of troubled. Ambling through Stop & Shop's produce section, in quest-selection of perfect green peppers, on the way home from works on a Friday night, I sensed his presence, I felt his presence, but I couldn't see his presence . . . and then, there he was ~ a short, strong, older dark haired man, asking with a different kind of inner light, "Pardon, would you please show me where the smaller chilies are?". Instinct always rules when your spirit, even a troubled spirit, knows the grace of Open, so cart and purse left behind, I turned the proverbial corner with the mysterious gent to the hot pile of chilies, where his eyes danced and his hand grasped and pumped mine, tandem to an honoured blessing, "You are a warm and fine woman, undergoing some kind of trouble, yet instantly helped a stranger."

Perhaps the temperature changed or the warmth simply, (thus strongly) took on quantum frequencies, but in the next half-hour spent in fascination with the internal medicine man from Pakistan, my joining-in historical mate and I learned of four years of US citizenship, a most delicious curry recipe, Muslim influences into world-stretch, historical and governmental rhythms, injustices swallowed as pace of life, what classes of men are suitable for well-provided daughter matches, and the depth which intelligence furthers an individual. The parting was a hug and not a handshake; the proclamation, holding my gaze with his superb soft browns was, "Ah, you are a spiritual lady too?". Wanting to hold this moment, wanting this warming peace over where inner troubles fester, he answered my unspoken question, "We will meet again, when we are meant to."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I think he left Connecticut and went to Pennsylvania next,
helping my friend Zelda out with her own peppered thoughts; I can only trust so.

[Absolutely*Kate]

Moon, you touch spirits ... I've known that from first meeting you when *you* were a stranger I so enjoyed knowing ~ the more. Sure makes sense to me that your spirit reaches out to others at any place (that's not really strange).

Here, you really touched my spirit with what/how you said it ... and I'm happier still to see you using the resonance from your NativeAmerican name. Namiste Good peace to you good lady. ~ Absolutely*Kate

[Alexandra (MoonWillow) DeEsch]

I enjoy meeting strangers, in the strangest places. Well perhaps not so strange to some. I will sit there and exchange words, from culture to religion which is a touchy subject to some. You can never learn to much, it makes you a stronger, wiser person in life. Kate your words are always meaning full and leave a mark deep inside one's mind or heart. Kudos on this 6!

Moon

[Absolutely*Kate]

ED! Coming from YOU who brings the proverbial pie to the table with slice-of-life stories, that means quite a whole lot. Thank*you for your generous Kudos-ranking at me trying to say it to share it the way it shook down and still give you the punch'line profound the man left me (peacefully) with. ~ Absolutely*Kate

[Edward Dean]

You're amazing Kate! How in the hell you can fit a total short story into a 'six' blows my mind.
This ranks as one ofyour best.......Kudos!

[Absolutely*Kate]

Some enchanted evening . . . you may meet a stranger . . . across a crowded room . . .

= Profound PLUS Dean . . . *** sigh ***
Lyth . . . that becomes potency, (and thanks)

[Alytha T. Minns]

Nice piece. I'm prone to brief and random (most importantly: profound) encounters with strangers myself.

[Absolutely*Kate]

Oh Kim-Robin, that brings me to you. You've become a warm and generous gift around ol'6*City, in your own open response to fellow writer'folk. This will keep opening many doors as your own writings ramble those roads yet less traveled. I'd start looking in produce sections of your corner of Pennsylvania for what zen just could be headed your way.

I was touched by the 'warming peace' comment. Glad I am to begin to know you through your writings and observations. ~ Absolutely*Kate

[Absolutely*Kate]

I still haven't got used to who turned the comment boards topsy-typesy-turvy, in ning-thinging once again, so i'll lean in to catch all the good inflections of this last worthy trio's introspections ~

Charming Mal ~ Yes, isn't it simply superb when being Open for the unexpected lets Anticipation just run on automatic pilot? Thank*you, good sir, and e'er for your accent too - I felt it. ~ Lassie

Allie Allie In Free, new genius literary editor to wider parts of the world writers' voices reach ~ How apt that you got what caused me a frisson of some twilight-zoney energy surge when the gent said, very carefully, very slowly, "I - am - in - internal = medicine" . . . As for what that 'stranger' aversion thing is having you miss out on? Not just the curry recipe, but my life has yielded knowing you and Mal and Kim-Robin when I didn't find your strong personalities something to run or shy away from. *Positives* really can be intuited before the negative folk give themselves away by how they roll. Thanks and *Congrats* on the exquisite seek & present job you recently delivered in your premiere issue of Gloom Cupboard. I found the diversity and quality worth two mugs of coffee, past the ponder just one would've provided. ~ Absolutely*Kate

[Kim Soles]

Pennsylvania huh? I will have to keep my inner eye wide open for ya.
Zen, peppers, and Kate...and a good curry recipe. Your style of writing lends a "warming peace" and that is a generous gift.
~kim-robin!

[Allie]

Perfect title for this piece. I don't talk to strangers. Just look at what I'm missing out on. "Internal medicine man" . . . the modern day witch doctor; the one who sees past our flesh and blood to our soul and knows the medicine to heal it.