Angels Among Us

It was one of those "down days" in a roller coaster of emotions and I was at a loss for what to do.  I definitely had to get out of the house for a bit, but didn't feel like really going anywhere.

So it was off to the library to work on the jigsaw puzzle spread out on the big table there.  I had the room to myself as I talked through my emotions, with lots of swearing and tears, which seems to be part of this process.

Then in walked a woman, so I quietly blew my nose and composed myself until she would leave.  That was the plan.

She sat at the table with me and we started a conversation which quickly progressed into personal issues.  Isn't this always the way with women?

After the appropriate amount of small talk, I shared my journey with her as to my self imposed exile for the summer to think things through and get my head on straight as to what I wanted my "Golden Years" to entail.

She shared her story of the loss of her husband last February after a long and difficult illness.  I thought she would be less sympathetic to my leaving a decent man because I felt I wanted more out of life and needed the distance to sort things through.  I was totally wrong.  

She commended my decision and said she wished her sister had had the gumption to do the same thing in her marriage.

We must have talked for at least an hour, time seemed to stand still and nobody entered the room during the entire conversation. It was just me and my new 92 year old role model.

She thanked me for talking to her and remarked on how much she enjoyed our conversation and new friendship.  I thanked her for lifting my spirits out of the doldrums and helping me clear my mind.

We both share the same belief that G-d orchestrates this kind of thing and our meeting was no accident and hugged each other goodbye.

It was such an honor to be in her presence and learn from her years of wisdom.  I can't wait to see her again.

Long Live the Queen