After I published a column about the joys of growing up in a small town I received a delightful email from a Kathie, a Lehigh Valley reader.

Like many others who treasure their small town memories from long ago, Kathie commented on the way most of us seemed to know everyone in town.

“We knew about strangers,” she said, “but we rarely saw one.”

And when we did, it wasn’t long before that new person was no longer a stranger.

Back then, we tended to be more open and welcoming toward strangers, at least in small towns. I’m sure big cities require more caution.

Throughout the years a lot changed and youngsters were warned to never talk with strangers.

Personally, while growing up I’ve never believed in the caution to never talk to strangers.

I believed in always talking to strangers. If we don’t, how else do we get to know new people?

As a 6-year-old I remember striking up a conversation with a women who lived a few blocks from our place.

I told her how much I loved spaghetti.

The next thing I knew was I was sitting in her house while she served me spaghetti.

My mother wasn’t alarmed when I told her about my new friend who made great spaghetti.

Years later when I thought back to those days I marveled at how freely kids could wander wherever they wanted with no fear of harm.

My mother told me I would always talk to anyone. “If there wasn’t anyone around I think you would talk to a telegraph poll,” she laughed.

Back then I didn’t know the meaning of the word extrovert. I just knew I enjoyed talking with people. All sorts of people.

That never changed. Years of hearing about stranger danger must never have had an effect on me.

While I am no longer like a friendly little puppy dog, I still enjoy talking with strangers.

It just happens. I don’t think twice about it.

By now my husband should know that about me. But he was taken back at a recent doctor’s appointment. He was worried about a procedure he was to have that day because we had heard a few horror stories from others.

While we were waiting in the crowded doctor’s office I struck up a conversation with a man who had just left the doctor.

I asked if he had the same procedure my husband was waiting to have. He did.

Best yet, he said it wasn’t anything to worry about. “It’s over in a minute or two,” he said.

I went back inside where my husband was still waiting and told him to relax. The procedure would be over in a minute or two. I told him about my conversation with the patient that had just had it done.

“How, may I ask, did someone you didn’t know tell you that stuff?” he asked.

Easy. I asked.

My husband still couldn’t understand how a stranger would start talking about his medical procedure with me. But it made David relax and stop worrying.

When I go to a social gathering with David, I enjoy talking to people until I see he’s just standing there wanting to go home.

When I ask why he didn’t talk to anyone there he said it he can’t talk to someone unless they have something in common.

“Well, how in the world would you know you have nothing in common with the other guys if you didn’t talk with them?” I asked.

Many people are comfortable talking with strangers.

Like Will Rogers, I believe strangers are just friends we haven’t met yet.

By no means do I mean to imply talking with a stranger will have a worthwhile outcome.

Often times it’s just a casual encounter that won’t mean anything.

Yet, even short casual encounters can serve a purpose.

After the hurricane when FEMA set up headquarters to give us information, I went early in the morning to get in line. I didn’t get there early enough.

According to the slip I was given, I was 70th in line. There were multiple lines but none seemed to be steadily moving.

We sat on chairs according to number and slowly advanced in rows.

I struck up a conversation with the guy in front of me. Fortunately he was an interesting fellow with plenty of stories to tell. In addition to giving me some good FEMA survival tips he helped me pass the three hours I had to wait before my number was called.

Sometimes that’s the only benefit of a casual stranger encounter. It helps us pass the time away pleasantly.

Yet, all those casual encounters can be beneficial.

According to psychologist Gillian Sandstyrom seemingly insignificant social interactions with strangers can influence and improve our well being.

Much to my surprise, there is a wide range of information on the Internet about talking with strangers.

Psychologists say many people can’t talk to strangers because they worry about what to say and worry about how their efforts will be perceived.

I believe it all boils down to this. We win some and lose some. Nothing serious is at stake.

On the other hand, if just one casual encounter turns into a friendship, as many do, then we’re ahead of the game.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net