Travel was a big part of my job as an office trainer. As I maneuvered down the aisle of the crowded airplane, my mind drifted to other trips I\u2019d taken: New York, Washington, overseas\u2026<\/p>\n
It was in Holland\u2014at a tulip festival\u2014that my husband, Craig, proposed. Even now, 12 years after his death, tulips always made me think of him.<\/p>\n
I reached my row, where a middle-aged lady was already seated on the aisle. \u201cI\u2019ve got the window,\u201d I said. She moved aside to let me climb in, apologizing for her bag. \u201cNo problem,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
I hope she\u2019s not chatty, <\/em>I thought as I pushed my own bag under the seat in front of me. The one thing I hated while traveling was a seatmate who talked too much. Our flight from Boise to Portland was only an hour, and I planned to spend most of it sleeping. \u201cAre you heading home today?\u201d the woman asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cI live in Boise, but I\u2019m flying on business.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m on my way back to Alaska,\u201d she said. \u201cI just attended my high school reunion. Forty years. I can hardly believe it!\u201d<\/p>\n That made me think of my own anniversary. It was still months away, but this year would have been our twentieth. A milestone. I tried to distract myself from feeling sad by listening to my seatmate. She was going on and on about her reunion.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city\u2019s changed a lot since I lived here,\u201d she said. \u201cI guess I\u2019ve changed a lot too. I got divorced a few years ago, and I felt like I had to start my whole life over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI felt that way after my husband died,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m DJ, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Karen.\u201d<\/p>\n We talked all the way to Portland. I never would have imagined myself sharing details of my life with a stranger, but Karen just made me feel comfortable. When the captain announced our arrival I was almost disappointed! Karen put up her tray table to get ready for landing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a cute bracelet you\u2019re wearing,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t it fun? I got it at the Saturday market downtown. It\u2019s made of spoons!\u201d She slipped it off to show it to me. I turned it over in my hand, running a finger over the floral pattern along the edges, and the little butterfly charm that dangled from the place where the two spoon handles joined.<\/p>\n Craig loved craft fairs. This bracelet was just the type of thing he might have picked up for me. Of course, he probably would have looked for a tulip pattern. \u201cIt\u2019s really nice,\u201d I said, handing the bracelet back to Karen.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I would have gotten a couple more for my daughters,\u201d she said wistfully. \u201cI wonder if the seller has a web site.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could find out for you,\u201d I surprised myself by saying. What am I doing? <\/em>I didn\u2019t even like talking to people I met on planes. Now I was offering to track down craft jewelry for one? It was completely out of character for me. But now that I\u2019d offered, I couldn\u2019t back down.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stop by the booth when I get back to Boise,\u201d I said. \u201cGive me your e-mail and I\u2019ll let you know what I find out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much!\u201d said Karen. She was so happy, I knew I\u2019d done the right thing, strange as it was.<\/p>\n She jotted down her e-mail, and I warned her I probably wouldn\u2019t get to the fair for a few weeks. \u201cThat would be fine,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is just wonderful! I\u2019m so thankful to have met you. If you\u2019re ever in Alaska, you\u2019ve got a place to stay!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just might take you up on that,\u201d I said. She really had been a delightful companion.<\/p>\n My business trip went well, and I returned home to Boise. On a warm and sunny Saturday I went down to the market to fulfill my promise. Almost right away I found the booth selling spoon jewelry. I browsed the display, checking out earrings, necklaces and rings as well as bracelets like Karen\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cSee anything you like?\u201d asked the seller.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not really shopping for myself,\u201d I said. \u201cI promised a friend I\u2019d find out if you have a web site.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, we don\u2019t,\u201d she said. \u201cBut take my card. If your friend gives me an e-mail address I can send her some pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n