At the Open Houses, many people want to speak to me, and I have little real time to speak with anyone. I think the people who need to find me find me. I was heading to give a talk in the middle of the afternoon when a young woman, smiling but somewhat shy and a bit nervous, came up to me with a big smile.

“I’m sure you don’t remember me,” she said, but when I was struggling with my life I wrote you a message and i was surprised when you answered me. It was just one line.

“Never give up on love,” you answered. “I came a long way today to meet you and to tell you that message transformed my life. I did not give up on life. And he brought me here today. His name is Rodney.”

And this smiling – no, beaming, man – came up to me gave me a handshake and a bear hug. “Thank you,” he said, “she really wanted to thank you in person. So did I.” I was humbled and very touched by her message,  her name was Lois. I thanked them for telling me, this, I said I wanted to introduce them at the talk I was giving.

A few minutes later, as I walked over to begin the talk, Lisa came running up to me, her eyes had filled with tears.

“What’s wrong?,” I asked.

“Rodney just got a cell call,” she said, “just a minute ago. He just got the news that his sister had tied suddenly. He is heartbroken.” I took Lois’s arm and began walking her to her car, she was upset for Rodney. When we got to the car he was crying, I shook his head, he could hardly speak. Obviously, he cared for his sister very much.

I was holding a bag filled with sandwiches for Maria and her friend Mandy, they were working together in the Schoolhouse Studio selling art and keeping track of the sales. I felt the need to give Lois something, a book, something from the farm. They were in a rush, I handed her the bag of sandwiches, so they might have something to eat on the long drive home. I thought of my grandmother, Minnie, that is just as she might have done.

I thought of the curious passage of life and fate, it gives so much and takes so much away, sometimes in the same instant. Lois has fulfilled a long dream to come and meet me and to thank me personally for encouraging her to keep love alive, she wanted me to meet Rodney, she was proud of him, and they were so obviously deeply in love and happy together.

Love and death, right there, bracketing a moment and reminding us that life has its own plans for us, grace is acceptance. Lois, if you are out there reading this – I never had time to get your name and number – thank  you, you gave me a great gift.

This morning, an e-mail: “Thank you so much for your kindnesses today to Rodney And me.  We were in such shock having just heard the terrible news about Rodney’s sister. They were extremely close and it was so unexpected.  Thank you for the sandwiches.  We are still on the road and they were our dinner. Please also tell Maria goodbye and thank you.  I admit I embarrassed myself by crying in front of her. But hey, we are women. Rod is struggling. Please say a prayer for us tonight and perhaps we will see you again sometime.  Loved looking into Reds eyes and stroking his fur.
Dreams do come true.”

How nice to know someone of such grace and feeling.