I'm at work. Two ladies come in, a black lady and a white lady. The white lady has sunglasses on so I really can't see her face. I don't know the black lady at all, so I assume I don't know the white lady either.
I'm making small talk with them as I'm writing up their re-wire order, tell them where I grew up because it is near where they were from and teachers. The white lady starts asking me if I know this person or that. I say "yes, I knew X- he was friends with a boyfriend I had in high school from XYZ town." She says, "Oh, who was that?". I say, X X. She takes off her sunglasses and it's X X's mother. I immediately start tearing up. She said, "didn't he go to a prom with you, or a church dance...". I say, "yeah, the church cotillion. I was the Jewish girl in the Catholic group". She opens her eyes wide and says, "Oh my god, TARA?" and come to hug me. I cry which makes her cry.
Her son died in a freak car accident when I had just started sophmore year of high school and he'd just started freshman year at college. We had been together on and off for about a year at that time. I got close to her after, she tutored me for a little while, etc. But, life went on, the internet didn't exist then to keep tabs on people. We'd lost touch because that's just what happens.
So, here we are hugging and crying, her friend is just standing there, and I felt like it was a "this is your life" moment. It brought me back to being at her house after he died...It was just so weird. But nice to see her. I just didn't expect it, wasn't expecting to get so emotional, but she also brought up my mom- she knew her too and had heard. She said she just put away her Christmas stuff and the ornaments my mom and I bought her the first Christmas after he died.
Well. I need tissues.
Re: I just had an Oprah moment
That's sweet, and touching, and heartbreaking. You have only been there for a week, and that store is already bringing people (back) into your life.
There you go bringing up your store again just trying to drum up business. Gah!
But really, that's so sweet, and I'm glad you were able to have that moment.
I know- I'm just marketing. I actually made up that story just to get people interested in rewiring their lamps.
Seriously, I'm not sure if it's hindsight or what, but I felt like when I said her son's name she was going to know who I was talking about. I just didn't think it was actually his mother. I mean, she aged, when you think about someone you knew in high school, you picture what they looked like then. So, I was just so surprised.
Well, I assume she's going to come back with her friend when her friend's lamp is ready. She took my card with my phone and email. But she's not a computer person and isn't on FB. So, I don't know. It would be so much easier to keep in touch if she was on FB. I'm not sure I'd call her out of the blue but if she called me I'd be cool with it or I'd meet her for lunch or something.
I'm actually friended to her younger son on FB who was nine when his brother died. We used to write more when we first found each other years ago but now I just sort of look when he has new pics and stuff.