Craigs Life | Terre says | ENTERTAINMENT
Craigs Life
April/21/08 09:59 PM Filed in: Terre says
What do a newly divorced artist with a rare
genetic disease, an elderly woman who plans to
live in a berm house in Florida after her home of
40 years is plowed down and a woman with big game
trophies in her basement have in common?
They are all the people behind the products you can find online on Craigslist.
For those of you unfamiliar with Craigslist (sic) (www.Craigslist.org), it is an online classified site where one can find everything from a kitchen sink or fish aquarium to a new job or even a soul mate.
For me it has become an obsession (for the record, I’m not looking for a soul mate).
Instead, I’m in the process of buying a new house that’s going to need a lot of work. With a limited budget for fixing up things I turned to Craigslist to see what was available. I was surprised to find people selling or giving away great stuff.
I have found light fixtures and ceramic tiles as well as garden tools and paint. Most importantly I have found a wealth of incredibly interesting people. With my propensity for talking to almost anyone, Craigslist has given me a whole new audience.
Some of you may be familiar with Ira Glass, the creator of the syndicated radio (and now TV) show This American Life. His show offers up some of the most fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories about people and their lives. When asked in an interview why people told him personal stories, Ira responded, “A little curiosity goes a long way.”
I have found this to be true with my Craigslist encounters as well. I have been surprised how open, with just a little interest, perfect strangers can be about their lives. Sometimes painfully open. I have been privy to some of the most poignant stories. Stories that include a life threatening illness that has caused a woman in her 40’s to endure 41 operations and 3 heart attacks, a woman whose son committed suicide, and another woman who has finally found the courage to leave her abusive spouse of 20 years.
And yet another feminine soul who is lovingly digging up her beloved plants to find them new homes before her house is plowed down.
I merely arrived at their doorstep to buy their tools, plants, sinks, etc. Little did I realize how much I would come away with.
Indeed, a little curiosity does go a long way. I have stayed in touch with a few of these people, emailing periodically to see how things are going. I hope as my quest for attic fans and garden tools leads to me to new encounters I will have the opportunity to introduce you to some of the new people I meet along the way.
My experiences have reminded me the world is full of pain and sadness, joy and laughter.
Because I have taken a little time to listen and share an empathetic moment with someone else I have been reminded, too, what a truly blessed life I have.
They are all the people behind the products you can find online on Craigslist.
For those of you unfamiliar with Craigslist (sic) (www.Craigslist.org), it is an online classified site where one can find everything from a kitchen sink or fish aquarium to a new job or even a soul mate.
For me it has become an obsession (for the record, I’m not looking for a soul mate).
Instead, I’m in the process of buying a new house that’s going to need a lot of work. With a limited budget for fixing up things I turned to Craigslist to see what was available. I was surprised to find people selling or giving away great stuff.
I have found light fixtures and ceramic tiles as well as garden tools and paint. Most importantly I have found a wealth of incredibly interesting people. With my propensity for talking to almost anyone, Craigslist has given me a whole new audience.
Some of you may be familiar with Ira Glass, the creator of the syndicated radio (and now TV) show This American Life. His show offers up some of the most fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories about people and their lives. When asked in an interview why people told him personal stories, Ira responded, “A little curiosity goes a long way.”
I have found this to be true with my Craigslist encounters as well. I have been surprised how open, with just a little interest, perfect strangers can be about their lives. Sometimes painfully open. I have been privy to some of the most poignant stories. Stories that include a life threatening illness that has caused a woman in her 40’s to endure 41 operations and 3 heart attacks, a woman whose son committed suicide, and another woman who has finally found the courage to leave her abusive spouse of 20 years.
And yet another feminine soul who is lovingly digging up her beloved plants to find them new homes before her house is plowed down.
I merely arrived at their doorstep to buy their tools, plants, sinks, etc. Little did I realize how much I would come away with.
Indeed, a little curiosity does go a long way. I have stayed in touch with a few of these people, emailing periodically to see how things are going. I hope as my quest for attic fans and garden tools leads to me to new encounters I will have the opportunity to introduce you to some of the new people I meet along the way.
My experiences have reminded me the world is full of pain and sadness, joy and laughter.
Because I have taken a little time to listen and share an empathetic moment with someone else I have been reminded, too, what a truly blessed life I have.