Arizona

I met an interesting young woman when I got my tires changed today. She explained to me that the rubber in my sneakers prevented me from completing the energy cycle with the earth, and thus I lose energy while walking, unlike herself, who gains energy while walking because of her leather soles. She traveled 80 miles round-trip for a good deal on two tires. She also revealed to me things I didn't know about gypsies and Scandinavians. She speaks eight languages and can detect when Italian food has been made with metal cookware instead of glass bowls and wooden spoons. She didn't get around to explaining to me what Jesus really meant, though I feared at every turn that was coming next.

I gave no word of contradiction to any of it.

I will add that she talked about other subjects that she got moderately right. The Finns in New Ipswich. Orthodox Jews. It was just weird that she went so quickly to gypsies, Scandinavians, and languages where I actually have a little knowledge that could so easily contradict her. I liked her, though more in retrospect than at the time. She seemed a bright, untrained mind. Well-meaning, kindly. Just kind of ding-y.