twenty-six: I get into cars with strangers

I know this probably wasn't one of my finest moves. And in all fairness I've only done it thrice, and one time pretty much doesn't count since the strangers were friends of friends. Another time I was on vacation in a tourist filled place, and it was the back of a truck. There was one time though were I did get into a car with a complete stranger. Maybe I trust people too much? It turned out ok, and to me it actually seems kind of odd that we live in a society where getting into a car with strangers is considered taboo.

I don't think I normally would get into a car with a stranger, but that day I had parked really far away from the university and I had a long trek ahead of me. It was also miserably cold outside. As I was walking a man driving a black sedan honked and rolled down his window. He asked me if I was going to the university, and I said yes. He then proceeded to offer me a ride, and I gladly accepted. The drive wasn't terribly long and our conversation consisted of him asking me where my class was, and what I was taking. He also proceeded to tell me he still remembers when he had to park far away and walk to classes. He was just a nice old guy doing something nice for a fellow human being. Why does society find that so odd? Maybe we're all just too wrapped up in our lives to notice those around us. I wish there were more people like him, because strangers are people too. That's probably why I'm often so freaked out by public transportation... it seems so unnatural to have hundreds of people moving in the same direction but with almost no interaction at all. Everyone is just so focused on getting there, they can forget to see what is presently in front of them.

Thanks for reminding me to pay attention to those around me.