So, is it possible to find someone who is out there somehow lost in the black hole of Twittering or "booking Faces"? You bet it is.I'm surprised it took her this long to make contact.
About 42 years ago pretty little Helen sat in my Math class in our local high school. Today, she was genuinely ecstatic that she was able to track me down. "A dream come true", she uttered. That was a compliment, but I thought I terrorized my students then. She must not think so.
Our reunion may not be headline-worthy but it sure left us both feeling great and nostalgic about the good old days. The meeting place was the front door of the St. Patrick's Cathedral on a cold Tuesday morning. We both spotted and recognized each other without a hitch. She didn't change much, not even an inch taller it seems, still looking young and sporting that shy-Helen smile.
The day proved to be a mini-vacation/tour for Helen. Realizing that she hasn't seen much of the City even as she stays with her son in NJ, I showed her around. We got good lessons on how cranberries are harvested by flooding the bogs. The Ocean Spray people had a nice display complete with flooded berries corralled in front of the Rockefeller Plaza. Harvesters in tall rubber boots and with their raking tools wade in a sea of bright ruby red cranberries. It was awesome. We even got a free bottle of cranberry -pomegranate drink.
We then strolled down nearby Central Park. Dwarfed by the towering skylines in the backdrop, she was so thrilled as we crossed the park to get to the west side of Manhattan.
Nothing much has changed between us it seems. Feeling a little awkward calling me by my first name, she addressed me as "Ma'am" or "Miss" all this time. Let's face it, there's really no way to put a youthful spin on "Ma'am", but I didn't mind, Helen is just too polite and respectful.Her stories came pouring out - the success stories and whereabouts of her other classmates. I remember most of those kids and I feel like I'm part of their accomplishments.
As it turned out, Helen and I share the same passion - baking and cooking. We had lunch at Whole Foods by Central Park West. That's when she told me she was in the restaurant business for a good two years until it got too exhausting for her. She still does private catering and party planning and so we had lots of baking experience to share. We drooled as we window- shopped at Williams- Sonoma. Aside from the fact that I no longer have room for any more cookwares in my small kitchen, I've made a vow that my kitchen shopping days are pretty much over.
From there we walked down Broadway and took some shots by the Ed Sullivan Theatre, the home of the infamous The Late Show with David Letterman. Without the traffic from cars and cabs along the stretch going towards Times Square, we didn't find ourselves weaving through a mass of lost tourists. Helen had fun, I acted as her guide. "Let's do this again", she said, and I didn't protest, but next time it'll be with her classmate Antera from Maryland. They are welcome to stay with me.
Being with Helen for a very short time, suddenly 63 felt like half the number.
Not quizzing you Helen, but you do the math. How many miles did we walk without being bogged down? You think this "Ma'am" still has some good years left?
