I tried to surprise Laura at the train station.  I wanted to sneak up behind her and say “Have you ever heard of the Evolutionary Collective?”  Sadly there were many cars on the train and a flood of people exiting.  I couldn’t find her.

I hustled back to our arranged meeting spot and sat down.  A minute later, here comes a familiar face.  We smiled from a distance and hugged from up close.  Reunion.

After a stop at my apartment so she could drop off her stuff, we dipsy-doodled through the streets of Gent centrum.  It was raining.  But so what?  We had warm coats and an umbrella.

I wanted Laura to experience Izy Coffee, a homey locale for me, where I’ve had so many conversations.  And now another one.  I can’t remember what we talked about but the words were sparkled with smiles.  Two friends who had never before been in the same room.

After coffee, I asked Laura to take the lead, to follow where her nose led her.  Pretty soon it took us to St. Bavo’s Cathedral, one of Gent’s famous churches.  She wanted to go in, and so we did … both of us for the first time.

Inside was immense.  I told Laura I wanted to find a statue that spoke to me.  We parted ways.  Within a hundred steps a shining lady offered a welcome:

We had a nice talk.

Laura was drawn to a ring of candles.  And soon our eyes met once more.

As we walked and talked throughout our day, what each of us had to say was real.  We went to moments and people who have touched our lives.

I wanted to know about Laura’s work.  She told me that her small group coordinates the sustainability efforts of many organizations.  Thanks partially to the work of Laura and her friends, the whole is truly bigger than the sum of its parts.

Some of what Laura said I didn’t understand.  I’m okay with that.  Seeing the commitment in her eyes was enough.

I asked her where was home.  Her response showed that there is no central location in geography.  Home is when she’s with lovely people.  Laura agreed that she’s a nomad.  I smiled to feel the sameness and the difference between us.  Home for me is people and it is Gent.

I knew I could talk about anything with Laura and she would simply get it.  No evaluation or comparison.  So I mentioned two times in my life I had failed to complete a task – riding my bicycle across Canada and becoming a teacher in the Evolutionary Collective.  Almost completely I’ve let those experiences go.  They both bring a tiny smile to my face.

Laura and I had a long dinner at Shazanna, a delicious Italian restaurant.  It really didn’t matter what we talked about.  Again, I can’t remember.  We were together.

Our day ended with a walk on the wet cobblestones of the Patershol – the oldest area of Gent.  Restaurants and cafés showed the faces of diners and drinkers … couples and small groups enjoying each other’s presence. 

Welcome to my home, Laura