Contrasting Encounters.

Do you remember the elderly woman who stopped her car when I was walking along the lane and asked ‘You’re not wearing a coat today. Is that because it’s warm and sunny?’ (Well… erm… there’s probably a connection…) She did it again this morning, this time with the opening gambit: ‘You’re wearing a sun hat today.’ My reflexes must have been razor sharp because I managed a reply before the obvious question was raised. ‘I have two of them,’ I said, ‘this one and a blue one.’ I thought of taking the matter further by advising her that I also have two other hats – a black beanie and a tan beanie – for winter wear, but her second move was too quick for me: ‘You’ll be wearing a raincoat later in the week because it’s going to rain.’

What is it with old ladies and outdoor apparel? Should I feel sorry for them? Or should I contrive to start a new conversation beginning with an opening gambit along the lines of ‘It all depends on the nature of reality, doesn’t it? According to the quantum physicists, reality isn’t what we think it is.’ I wonder what her next move would be. (Could be interesting.)

The afternoon was very different. I had a dental appointment booked for 5.30, but I had a little time to spare and so I popped into the homewares and garden store on the retail park. And who do you think I bumped into? (Not quite literally, of course): Honourable Sister and Mr Oscar the sprocker dog. And how very delightful it was. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s the first time I’ve ever had a substantial conversation with HS in the nearly two decades during which I’ve been aware of her presence. And Oscar was as wriggly and friendly as ever.

And I wasn’t done yet. I went into the dentist and found that the same young woman receptionist was there to book me in as before. She’s the one who so reminds me so much of the Lady B. Same dark hair, same eyes – even the same colour as I noticed today – and the same smile. I suggested that she might have a psychic twin in the area in spite of the approximate fifteen years of age difference. She thought it possible, but didn’t seem convinced. (I sometimes wish I could be as aloof with young women as I am with old ones, but we all have faults, don’t we?)

But the upshot was that I returned home in a good mood, and that’s rare these days.