I never met a man (or woman) I didn’t like

I’ve met and visited with many fine men and women and stopped to talk with lots of total strangers during my 65 plus years on this earth.

I’m a believer that strangers don’t become friends unless you take an interest in them.

When meeting people, some enjoy visiting or finding a connection, while others have no interest or time to talk. And that is OK!

My Iowa family and I attended the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion Aug. 27 — Sept. 1.

When walking the grounds or strolling through the campground, I often look for folks to visit with.

It might be a shirt or hat they are wearing that grabs my attention, or I might be seated next to someone on a bench by an Old Threshers attraction or museum, train or trolley stop or about anywhere on the grounds.

On Monday, I found myself talking with one of the train personnel volunteers with the Midwest Central Railroad.

I enjoyed visiting with him for a short time.

My dad was a master visitor. To him, no one was a stranger.

He’d strike up a conversion with someone in a restaurant or at fishing hole. He had an uncanny ability of finding folks with connections to his growing up days in the sticks east of Tulsa.

In June 1989, my dad and I took a trip from Tulsa to the Grand Canyon, traveling through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Kansas over a 11-day period.

My dad loved to visit, and back in the day I was more keen on minding my own business. I learned a lot from my dad, and what used to bother me is now part of my life every day.

While at the Old Threshers Reunion, I stopped and visited with a number of attendees on the grounds and campgrounds. I met several from the State of Missouri, of which have a connection, and visited with one family in the campground from southern Arkansas. They told me it takes 11 hours pulling their camper to get home from Mount Pleasant.

I saw a lady near the north village wearing a Lambert’s Café T-shirt. I said something to her about enjoying eating there and that I once traveled to Sikeston, Missouri, to take photos at the restaurant for a story a fellow journalist was doing on the eatery.

She wasn’t too interested in visiting more, so I moved on to someone else.

And while out visiting garage sales in Mount Pleasant, I took time to pray with one woman at one of the sales. I bought some CDs and got ready to leave when I felt a nudge in my heart to pray for this woman. I asked God to bless her and heal her.

And many times, my family has to wait for me to catch up when I stop to talk with someone.

Knowing how much I like to visit and talk to compete strangers, our oldest nephew suggested I write a column about never meeting a man (or woman) I didn’t like.

I thought that was a good idea.

“I never met a man I didn’t like,” was a popular quote by Will Rogers, a humorist, vaudeville actor, movie star, newspaper columnist, social commentator and trick roper, from the 1920s and 30s.

Born and raised in the Indian Territory, just outside of Oolagah, a small community northeast of Tulsa, Rogers was considered Oklahoma’s favorite son.

He and his pilot, Wiley Post, were killed in a plane crash at Barrow, Alaska Aug. 15, 1935.

I’m quite familiar with Rogers as I attended Will Rogers High School in my hometown of Tulsa. Rogers is the third oldest high school in Tulsa, following behind Central and Webster.

The first graduating class at the art deco masterpiece building located near Tulsa University was 1940. The school just celebrated its 85th birthday.

Anyway, according to the internet, the quote was taken from a longer quote by Rogers. The full version is, “I joked about every prominent man in my lifetime, but I never met one I didn’t like.”

I can say with confidence that I have more friends than enemies. I’ve learned of many newspaper stories and features through meeting total strangers.

I’m confident that I have many more friends than foes in my life and for that, I’m most grateful. I stay connected with many through Facebook and social media.

I challenge you to say hello or stop and strike up a conversation with a total stranger. It might end up being a blessing in your life.

Have a great week, and always remember that “Good Things are Happening” every day.