A friend of mine shot me an email the other day, “can we meet for lunch? I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

I confess my initial reaction was reluctance. I’d just gotten the first round of edits back from my editor and was busy going through them, adding stuff she wanted, fixing things that needed fixing. I also have a new contract for a book I haven’t even started writing that I’m busy doing research for and trying to plot. I have a lady who has asked for my help critiquing an entire manuscript before she submits it to an editor who expressed an interest in her story pitch. And another lady who is one of my critique partners who wants me to look at her “Stuff!”  In short, there is more work to keep me glued to my computer than usual and I was more inclined to stay home and plough my way through it. But Win is a very good friend and on top of her wanting to introduce me to someone, the last time I saw her was at a funeral and we haven’t talked, really talked, in months. So, I said yes.

At some point, lunch turned into supper, but that was okay. Better, in fact, than interrupting the middle of my day. So off I went last night to meet Win and her friend. I really need an attitude adjustment. Meeting new people is always an adventure and there is always something to be taken away, savored, remembered, learned or treasured. Marguerite was something of an exception though. She was all that and more. Win had told me she was an interesting lady, that she had lived an interesting life. Win was understating it. I think we closed the restaurant – I know we were still talking when the bus boy was hovering around our table wanting to clear it. And the rest of the tables were empty and already set up for the following day.

Can you imagine being born in Spain before the Spanish Revolution and escaping as a child to France? Then later escaping France when Hitler rampaged across Europe? And yet again from Cuba after Castro came to power? This lady had done all of that and more. Her story could have kept me entranced for at least another week of dinners and more.  She’s curious about finding someone to ghostwrite her life story and I’m going to try to help her find such a person. But in the meantime, I’m reminded:

Meeting new people is always and adventure – one I should never hesitate to accept. Life is way too short and there are worlds out there to explore. It’s the people you meet who can bring some of those worlds to your door.

Thank you Win for shooting me that invitation and thank you Marguerite for sharing some of the colorful stories of your life. You are an amazing woman and I’m glad I met you.