Mary was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.

With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.

Resuming the journey, Mary tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail. After a while the Navajo woman noticed a brown bag between the driver’s and passenger’s seats.

“What in bag?” The old woman asked.

Mary looked down at the brown bag and said, “It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.”

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two, but looked thoughtful.

Then she responded with the quiet wisdom of an elder:

“Good trade”