GOODNIGHT, SISTER

My best friend rolls her eyes at me when I call her "sister" because she says I say it to everyone. Well, I have a reason…many, but here’s one:

Taxi cabs are liminal spaces. I seem to thrive in them!

It was years ago, but I’m still thinking about a cab driver who took me on a ride, a beautiful peace-filled soul, who dropped me off in front of my building late one night, and then quietly said, "Goodnight, Sister."

I loved it.

He will never know how those two words impacted me in those moments, and consequently, always!

So. I decided to follow his lead as I was working my slammed brunch the next afternoon. Because restaurants are liminal spaces too.

I fell in love with this lovely lady in her 70's, with red hair and freckles.

So. Upon bringing her a cappuccino, I said quietly, "Here you go, Sister."

She giggled and exclaimed, "SISTER? I'M OLD ENOUGH TO BE YOUR GRANDMOTHER! CALL ME GRANNY JUNE!"

As she was leaving, she looked warmly into my eyes and then took me in her arms.

"Lovely to meet you, Sweet Sarah" she said.

"Lovely to meet you, too, Granny June!"

And then we both threw back our heads and laughed!

In just two days, I’d acquired a brother from Sudan and a grandmother from Connecticut.

And both altered my perception of the world.

I LOVED MY NEW FAMILY!

Haven’t seen them for years, but that’s not what matters.

How we connect to one another is the thing. It’s everything.