Meeting an Incredible Woman

 I was sitting at my desk when I heard my husband Thomas talking on speaker phone with someone in the other room. The conversation sounded so cheerful, exciting, and inviting that I felt magically drawn to the sound of their voices.

I went over to him and sat down on the couch to listen and realized this lively call was with Thomas’ friend, Margit. She was talking about how completely captivated she was by an encounter she had with a woman she had met that day. 

“What an impressive person! What a wonderful human being.” She gushed.

“It’s unbelievable what she’s experienced and gone through in her life. And she radiates such wisdom and such warmth! I am infinitely grateful to have met her. Such a lovely person.” 

Taking a breath Margit continued “And she shared everything with me: I got to look around the house, the fairy-tale garden. She even gave me tips on how to make jam: With plums, add two pits—that gives it that special flavor. And when she makes jam from the figs on her fig tree, she mixes them with blackberries. I would never have thought of that. She let me taste it and gave me a jar to take home—fantastic. She also dug up some plants for me and packed them up. It was an incredibly fulfilling afternoon full of touching stories, and I’m absolutely thrilled. She’s such an inspiration! And those courses she teaches on bodywork: Rhythm, Breathe, Movement. And on top of that, she’s a hospice and grief counselor, and she keeps this whole big house and the garden in tip-top shape. And she’ll be 88 in August! She’s beautiful—her skin is so soft and smooth—I’m completely blown away.”

As I sat there and listened, I realized that Margit was talking about my mother. Wow! 

My mother is an incredible person who inspires such enthusiasm. When Margit paused again for a moment to catch her breath, I said, “Thank you so much, Margit, for letting me see my mother through your eyes.”

Mom, it’s so wonderful to meet you. I love you.