My little portion of Tuscany

When was the last time you met someone and just found them sooooo interesting to talk to you could only hope you might see them again one day? Well for me, it was Thursday. A woman, Ellen, came into our office and in the course of doing our job we found out she was from Italy. Actually she was raised in this town, had lived in Boston for 19 years, and has lived in Italy for the past 11 years.

I've never had much desire to travel abroad, but if there is one place I would like to go to it would be Italy. My office is even decorated in the Tuscan style.

As it turned out, we talked for close to 2 hours, learning a little about the culture, her family, etc. She even mentioned that living in Italy was a lot like being in Arkansas because the people were so friendly. (Ok, your thinking how can you get by talking to someone for 2 hours when your suppose to be working. You have to understand that I work at a family-owned business, and the other woman working with me was one of the owners, and she looooooves to talk.)

As I said, Ellen, was so interesting, and funny. She was like all I could talk about to my husband that night. And even started Friday morning out talking about her. Knowing she was going to be returning Friday to take care of her business, I couldn't wait to talk to her again.

She arrived shortly after we opened, but said she couldn't stay long. Well as I mentioned my co-worked looooooves to talk too, so 2 hours later she was finally leaving.

Ellen may never know how much she brightened our lives those few hours we were with her, talking, laughing and even crying. I can only hope that we brightened hers as well. I believe, without a doubt, that God knew how much I needed this and in His glorious plan our paths were meant to cross. Could this be the beginning of a long friendship, I hope so. People are brought into our lives daily, some for only a moment, others for a lifetime.

I know she will be returning in a week or so to do some more business and I'm already looking forward to it. (Her husband will be with her then, and I already have a vision of what he will look like. BooMama we'll see if I'm accurate on this one).

Maybe you can take the time today to speak to a stranger, even if it's through a smile. It may be the brightness of their day. Or the start of a great friendship.

Life is made of ..........