by Baraneh Quest

Created on: October 21, 2008   Last Updated: March 28, 2011

Let's face it, there's always uncertainty when you encounter someone new. You don't know who they are, where they are from, their intentions - if any. In general, I would say to proceed with caution when talking with strangers but to be open to what you may find. I'll lend my story of meeting a stranger who in many ways changed my life. My heart had been broken several times over by the man I love and in the process, I had lost so much faith in lots of things that I believed in. My stranger in the night showed me that there is a different type of conversation that can exist between a guy and a girl, a conversing rhythm that comes with ease and certainty. With no mixed messages or manipulation. With genuineness, honesty, and real interest. I'll share what I experienced because it gives me joy to think about it as my encounter reminds me not to lose faith in the idea that I may find something real.

Recently, I found myself at a club in my local city. Not really my scene but I always try my best to sit back and find what I can enjoy in most places, even when the place makes enjoying the evening challenging by playing house music at a level so loud that you can barely think. A half-hour into being at the club, I decided to take a much-needed break from dancing the night away and I went up to the balcony. Leaning over the rail and watching the dance floor below me ripple in the stream of flashing lights made me laugh. Seeing the range of expression in people's faces - dead serious dancers to goofy friends to loving couples...the sheer variety made me smile and made me think of all of their stories. I started to wonder: "Where do they all come from? Did they have a hard week at work as well? Are they regulars? If I challenge one in a dance-off, I bet they'd kick my ass." All kinds of thoughts. I watched a couple and thought about how sweet it is to watch a guy look at his girl with a spark in his eyes that says he feels lucky to be with her. I watched the groups of goofy girlfriends who form chick circles and start doing the robot and all other kinds of 80's dances just to relieve their stress. And as I let my body cool down and caught my breath, I thought further about who all of these people were. And I thought about how funny it was that I found myself at this club of all places. My thoughts were interrupted when a young man approached me and struck up a conversation.

As most women would attest to, we generally try to get a feel for what the vibe is like from

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