Ten minutes ago (now thirty), as I sat in Lloyd Coffee Eatery enjoying my cheddar and bacon bun, a woman approached me with a big smile.  I didn’t know her but I smiled back.

Something was “off” about her face.  The smile was real but her eyes weren’t touching mine.  And then I realized … she was smiling at someone sitting at the table behind me.  (Sigh)  The yearning for contact denied.

Sometimes I wonder if other people see me as “off” when I’m looking at them.  In my less brave moments, I don’t look softly into the depths of their eyes.  It’s more like the bridge of their nose.  Hmm … that’s not how I want to be – a subtle fear being stronger than love.

In my better moments, the two of us are so together in the eyes.  It’s peace.

***

I’ve met a few famous people in my life.  One was Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  He was speaking in a Toronto cathedral.  Afterwards we were invited to line up down the centre aisle to say “Hi” to the great man.  It was a long line.

Closer, closer … and I didn’t know what to say.  Now I don’t remember what I said.

As Desmond and I talked for a few seconds, a sadness fell on me.  He was looking over my shoulder the whole time, gazing down the line of people waiting for him.  (Sigh again)

***

A heroic human being

Coping as well as he could with celebrity

And a lost moment for both of us