Didja Miss Me? Really?? :)

Once in a while I run into someone who is very excited to see me.  And it's pretty much always a surprise.  Their excitement, I mean.  :)
People that I had no idea would even remember my name after a couple of years...I sometimes find that I had a part in someone's life that I didn't recognize.  I realize that someone was listening to something I said, or noticing habits that I wasn't even aware of.  And it makes me feel a little awed and maybe a little embarrassed.  Mostly it just feels good.
I remember a card and gift that came in the mail right after I graduated from high school.  It was from my kindergarten teacher!  She said that she was so proud of me and that she remembered me as a little girl.  She wrote that she had often been following my activities- mostly through word of mouth or things that were published in our small local paper.  That she'd always read the things that I wrote there.  That she prayed for me and wished me all the best. 
Wow...who knew?  I was under scrutiny.  Yipe.  Thank you Mrs. Sasser.  Again, you taught me something very valuable.  (And she didn't even mention the day she had to pop me on the backside.  Gracious lady.) 

One of the things that I found annoying about growing up in a small town was that people always knew each others' business.  But now that I think about it, it was a grand thing too.  And that people were entertwined in a way that I never recognized or appreciated.  You could "follow" people you cared about and that you knew...for years...even if you never found occasion to speak to that person.  Yes, it's sad that more people don't reach out and speak and make connection, but it's nice to think that someone is keeping up with you.  That someone feels tied to you in some way, so that their concern and interest are active.  That someone will just be pleased as punch if they see you again someday. Don't get me wrong- I never did anything stellar- but it's inspiring when someone comes up and says, "I remember that thing you did.  Can't tell you how much I appreciate that."  Even if it's something like someone saying, "You always had a smile", or "I enjoyed talking to you". 

I think that most of us are like that.  We interact with people, and we try to do the right things at the time.  We try to treat other people well, but we aren't even sure if they notice or care.  Every once in a while, we might find out that something we did actually was appreciated.  That we were liked by someone that we didn't think even noticed us at all.  Maybe even someone who gave us a hard time or seemed indifferent.  Isn't it strange?  And I wonder if, during the times when I was feeling badly about myself or just lonely, if I had known that I was appreciated in a certain way, would it have made a difference? 
Oh yes!  Yes it would!  Or at least, I think so.  And it would have been really good too, if I'd sat down and thought about those people that I happen to appreciate, and who've been kind to me for one reason or other, when they didn't have to. 
And as surprised as I feel when I run into someone who actually missed me somehow, don't we all have those people that  did some little something that impressed us or that has stuck in our minds over time?  Maybe even someone you really liked but just felt the need to be reserved around.  Someone you teased, but it went the wrong way, and the person never knew how you actually felt.  I know there are those that made certain differences for me that I haven't told and that I've lost touch with.  I guess it shouldn't be so surprising to find that we are actually those objects for someone else now and then, and that we never knew about it either.  Often for some little something that we don't even recall.  Maybe something that cost us absolutely nothing and that we did absentmindedly, but that meant quite a bit to someone else.

So.  Is it necessary to seek all those people out, track them down, and make a grand announcement?  Nah.  Maybe some here and there, but I think the important thing is to appreciate more the interconnectedness that we all have.  The fact that we are always and ever influencing other people and being influenced by them, and it's all important or at least has the potential to be.  
 
Most of us are missed, and often by the last people we'd guess.  Even if we never know about it.  We are part of the whole. 

So be careful.  You too are being watched.  :)