Barbara J. Hamby

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Brief Encounters

In the shower, this morning, where many of my ideas are born, I was thinking about all the brief encounters in my life. There are people I’ve met once or twice who made enough of an impression to wonder where they are now and if their lives have changed as much as mine.

Some of them were relatives of friends of mine, some were “one night stands,” so to speak, others I worked with in various places. A few still keep in touch at Christmas, but many I haven’t heard from in years.

I guess I’m wondering if sprinkling a few of those brief acquaintances through my memoirs will add some flavor.

A book on my shelf, titled Brief Encounters, was published in 1979. One of the authors, Emily Coleman, is a friend of a friend of mine, although I’ve never met her. The purpose of the book is revealed in the subtitle: How to Make the Most of Relationships That May Not Last Forever. I’ve read the book more than once and always find something of interest.

At any rate, this quiet holiday weekend has given me some time to dredge up old memories and weigh their importance in my life story.

At any moment, my cousin and his wife will arrive to visit and take us to lunch. We haven’t seen them for a while, so we’re looking forward to their visit.