You know when things happen in a way that you hadn't planned, and you just decide to roll with it and then something cool happens?
On a Saturday morning a few months ago, I found myself standing in my local book exchange, exchanging some books I didn't want any more. I had spoken to the owner of the shop earlier in the morning who recommended I bring the books in that day as it was their busiest and they usually sold quite a few of the books I was wanting to be rid of. So, there I stood.... in my best cleaning clothes, wet hair, no make-up and green Havaianas (still some cool there, I suppose).
I was greeted by a lady who worked in the exchange who was kinda vaguely familiar. We quickly established we had known each other through Weight Watchers. She laughed saying how funny it is that so many people fall of the Weight Watchers wagon, it was then that I told her I had only VERY recently had a baby and she promptly stopped laughing (grmph). We chatted some more about what things we had been up to, travel we had done, we talked about our kids and a few other things, then I got down to the business of looking for some fabulous books I would not have time to read.
I wandered into the section housing classics, travel tales and health books (scarily near the 'sealed' section mind you). A lady I hadn't noticed, recommended a book on travelling with children, she had obviously overheard my conversation with my Weight Watcher buddy. We laughed and shared a few pleasantries. Before I knew it, we were talking about travel and Paris and life and I was struck by what an interesting lady I had just bumped into.
Let's call her, 'Julie'.... Julie recommended a book called, 'The Piano Shop on the Left Bank' by T.E Carhart. She said she reads it every year. It turns out Julie reads A LOT of books and especially books set in and about Paris. She recommended a few other books about Paris, of course, and told me that one day she would love to go there. Me being me, gushed and said, "Oh, you HAVE to go, it is the most amazing place blah blah blah blah de blah...." To which she explained that one day she would like to, but life hadn't worked out the way she had thought and she now found herself a widow and wondering what the future held.
From there we chatted about life and travel and, of course, books. Then Julie explained how much she loves photographic books on Paris, especially a photographer called, Carla Coulson. Then, she stopped and looked at me. She said she had a pile of books about Paris, including, 'Paris Tango' a book by aforementioned Coulson, that she would love to give me. I, of course, said, 'Oh, you really don't have to do that!' But, she insisted. I was really going to dig my heals in, but I thought, 'You know what, how often do you meet a lovely lady in a bookstore who would like to give away some of her books? Just go with it and see what happens.' So I did. I told her where I lived and she said she would drop the books around later.
When she arrived, it was like inviting an old friend in for a visit. Not only did she bring, 'Paris Tango' she also brought a collection of travel tales set in Paris, more photographic books and some 'Good Reading' magazines. It was such an extravagant gesture, I was blown away. I had to ask her in and introduce her to my family, this kind of meeting does not happen every day afterall. Mr Cool and the kids were having lunch outside and Julie engaged in conversation so easily and was lovely to the girls. She told us more of her life story and was just so easy to talk to.
When she left (Cool Baby was hungry and we were due to go and look at a piano), Mr Cool and I both agreed we had just met a really amazing lady. I wonder why I ended up in that book exchange on that rainy Saturday afternoon? I wonder why things happened the way that they do? I wonder if it was just a chance meeting, or if more is going to happen....?
I have since emailed her to see how she was going. She is travelling at the moment, but was very keen to accept my invitation to come for dinner with the promise of Tarte Tartin, when she returns. You can never have too many well read people in your life I say!
