EAL Fall 2023

T H E W R I T E P U R P O S E
CHRISTY JANE KYSER
“Everyone here is so nice.”
Local residents of a college town know better than to visit Target (or Walmart or Kroger or the
general public) on move in day. Congested parking lots. Tired mamas. Bewildered dads. Young
adults who a week before didn’t wake until three now race down the aisle for the last area rug or
Joanna Gaines floor lamp.
I knew better. But like most things these days, I forgot. And went to Target.
I did meet the sweetest grandmother, mother and daughter. The youngest looked anxious,
excitement rimmed with a little scared. The main thing I offered was to slow down. Literally and
figuratively.
“Green doesn’t always mean go. Pause, look again, then drive forward.”
The grandmother said, “Everyone here is so nice. Makes me feel better about leaving her
somewhere that she doesn’t know anyone.”
Everyone.
Now you and I both know that family had not met everyone. And we both know everyone isn’t nice
- at least not all the time.
But here’s the thing - we have the ability to make others think they have met an entire population.
And by doing so, form opinions of the whole city.
Family. Country. State. Place of business.
Starts with you. And me.
I’m moving my youngest child to college this week. I’m going to remind him to be an everyone.
To the new students. To the different ones. To the athletes and the musicians. To the abled and
specially abled.
96 EAST ALABAMA LIVING