Right Up My Ali

Waiting for my ride to work this morning, I noticed a little old lady power walking across the street with an umbrella.  We’ve been experiencing a serious heat wave in Baltimore so I definitely did not judge her for shielding her face from the scorching sun.  As she neared me I smiled my usual good morning smile and she stopped in her tracks and asks me point blank “So be honest, how ridiculous do I look?”  I burst into laughter as this was NOT what I was expecting to come out of her mouth.  I told her she looked more comfortable than the woman walking her dog across the street and that I see Asians do it all the time so she must be on to something.  She told me she was power walking to her computer class so she could learn how to email her family that lives in various parts of the world – the long distance was getting way too expensive! Anyhow, her name is Lila and I think we’re going to be walking buddies.  Who knew I had such a little gem living right around the corner and what a sweet Friday surprise.