We arrived early, at the cafe in a castle, we had agreed to meet at on-line.
No, it wasn’t a clandestine meeting.
My husband went inside to secure a table in the somewhat busy cafe. I sat outside, at a castle, to wait.
It did not escape me, that I am sitting in a world where castle’s are literally in people’s backyards. And have been for hundreds and hundreds of years. And I am meeting someone I have met “on-line”. The builders of this castle would never even begin to fathom….
I wondered again and again if I would recognize her. I had never met her, after all. We knew each other by our words. Here, on WordPress.
I have seen a picture of her, here and there, but she isn’t fond of pictures of herself. And I am becoming less so. I wondered if she would recognize me from my drawings….
I worry about the world we live in because of ‘on-line’ threats and scams and problems.
But my worries this day were not about those things. I was worried about real people, face to face, interactions. Would I be to her like I am “on-line”. Have I created an accurate image of myself with my words and stories. Or have I used creative license to create a me I’d like to be.
Will the truth of me match up with the image of me.
I did not have any doubts about meeting her. Not one. I just knew. She would be exactly as I read her.
It’s always our self doubts, isn’t it, that worry us more?
There are 3,504 miles between us, give or take a mile or two.
And as I sat there, I wondered about our paths. So far apart. But converging. Right here.
I was facing the entrance. Sitting at a picnic table. She would have to enter in front of me. I was looking at pictures I’d taken on my phone. I looked up. As I looked up, she stepped around the wall. I saw her, and knew her. I smiled. She saw me. She smiled.
She hugged me. Then said “let me hug you again”.
Then we didn’t stop talking or laughing.
Then we made my husband take pictures.
Then I didn’t like any of the pictures.
Then….we had to leave.
I said goodbye to my friend that I really did know all along.
And by the way…..she is really beautiful.
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