Although I’ve been trying to learn not to talk to strangers, sometimes it’s an actual, honest-to-goodness learning experience. For example, I just came back from a weekend in Colorado, celebrating, a little belatedly, my son’s birthday. Wonderful time with family and friends, perfect weather, the impressive Rocky Mountains, which seemed to follow me everywhere, and the fresh mountain air —crisp in the mornings and 70’s in the afternoons —made for a very special weekend. OK, now for the talking to strangers part…

  As anyone who lives in Manhattan knows, unless you are willing to take a few trains or a complicated bus ride, a cab or a car service is the only way to get to any of our three airports. So last Friday morning, my trusty car service picked me up exactly on time and dropped me off at LaGuardia, my usual two hours early (I know!). Noticing the driver had an unusual accent, I asked where he was from. “Cairo” was the unexpected reply. He had been a chemical engineer in Egypt, and when he got married 30 years ago, he and his bride moved to New York to start their family. They raised two (very successful) sons, one of whom, you will be sad to hear, is in the middle of an ugly divorce. So ugly in fact, that both parties have restraining orders against each other, and my driver transports his granddaughter between parents an hour each way twice a week!  I also learned that natural honey offers many more health benefits than processed honey, and that adding Tilo tea to your diet provides antioxidants, soothes irritated throat membranes, and combats inflammation. Now, aren’t you glad I spoke to a stranger? You’re welcome! 

My next conversation with a stranger was with the Lyft driver who took me from the Denver International Airport to downtown Denver, where my family was meeting me. While this one may not improve your health, it will definitely reinforce your belief that NYC is the center of the universe. Amadou immigrated to the U.S from Afghanistan only four years ago. In excellent English, he informed me that he was very nervous about his upcoming wedding in two weeks and was working 18 hours a day to help defray expenses, yikes! The belief that NYC was the center of the universe part came when this man, who hadn’t been outside of CO since arriving four years ago, asked me what I thought about Zorhan Mamdani for NYC Mayor! (I have no idea why my son and daughter-in-law laughed and rolled their eyes when I told them about these very informative conversations.)

  Although I don’t seem to have much control over it, those two conversations are on the plus side of my talking-to-strangers dilemma. However, on the not-so-good side, was my elevator experience last week.

  I was meeting friends for dinner and the weather looked iffy, so as I left my 39th-floor apartment, I grabbed an umbrella.  When the elevator doors opened and I stepped on, a well-dressed, normal-looking older couple greeted me. They didn’t have umbrellas, so I casually said something about possible rain-MISTAKE! The man looked at me pointedly and exclaimed that this was between the weatherman and God. “Do you believe in God?” he demanded. My astonishment must have been evident because his wife (or female friend) said something about not seeing rain in the forecast. OK, end of conversation, I hoped. But it was not to be, “She was born a Hebrew (!) and doesn’t believe in God, do you?” he demanded again. This was beginning to feel like a combination of harassment and the elevator ride from hell, when, thankfully, we reached the lobby. As I made my hasty exit, I said I was on her side (or something to that effect).

  So what have I learned about talking to strangers? I’ve learned it’s much more informative (and safer) to talk to livery drivers than to people in my own building. Also—and perhaps more importantly—when in an elevator, never mention the weather!