Another Year Wiser

Yesterday marked passage into yet another adult year of life. Good times! Seriously though, this is often a time of reflection and taking stock.

Of interest to note was a reconnecting visit yesterday with a professional relationship that ended four years ago almost to the day. I suppose some things do come full circle in life .

A bit of celebration, the perfect eggs benedict brunch, dinner 'n' wine with good friends and a heart warming ice cream cake that read, "Happy Birthday Byotch." Well, if the shoe fits ...

Beyond that, I met another writer, a song writer no less, just before midnight. We talked 'til nearly 2:30 this morning. There's almost nothing sexier than a well-put-together, mature man who has a talent for being able to express himself eloquently and meaningfully in words. This chance meeting was by far the icing on my cake.

So, what have I learned this past year? Well, actually something that a mysterious man once uttered to me randomly in passing when I worked at Issaquah's Gilman Village back in high school. I was all of 15, had just finished my shift at one of the quaint village eateries and was standing out back on the brick walkway, waiting for my folks to take me home.

It was a cool but fairly dry spring day. A handsome, elder gentleman appeared literally out of nowhere. He had beautiful, thick salt 'n' pepper hair, glad lines along the sides of his eyes and he whistled gaily. The stranger walked right up to me, smiled at me both with his eyes and his mouth, and then spoke these words very matter of factly, "If it's gonna be, it'll be me."

I was a bit puzzled at first. Generally I would have anticipated a friendly hello. Not in that moment, not this man; he had something profoundly meaningful to say which has stuck with me now for nearly 20 years.

Before I could engage him to inquire exactly what he meant, he was gone, literally vanishing as quickly as he had first appeared to me. A moment later, my parents drove up. "How was your day?" they inquired. Still looking a bit dismayed, "Truly wonderful," I replied and smiled ...