The Long Hello, Part I

I'm back from Omaha. So much is going on in my head that I can't find the words. So I'll start with the end and work my way back to Day 1 of Silver Bella.
        Yesterday I had a few hours to kill before going to the airport to catch my flight home, so I went to Second Chance antiques because I hadn't had time to do so before. I spent a while downstairs rooting around the old jewelry and textile stuff and was entertained by Sally Jean, also rooting around. Her friend pulled out a little blue box and told her she should buy it. She didn't think so. I stepped in and pointed out that the colour was Sally Jean Blue. "Put that way, I have to buy it," she said. That Sally Jean. If she could bottle her smile, it would sell very well.
         Upstairs at the cash desk waiting to pay for my little items, I overheard a conversation. Being much bolder as I grow older, I asked the customer what her name was. Annie Lockhart, she answered. There ensued an "I know you, I know you too!!!" exchange.
          When I got to Eppley Airfield, the check-in person didn't have change so I had to pay the baggage fee by credit card. I pulled out my Umbra Bungee credit card holder, and she was fascinated by it. We finished the check-in, and she asked me where I got it etc. etc. It's Canadian, I said, made by Umbra, a Canadian company. Can I get it online? she asked. I had no idea. I must have one, she said.
           Then something happened: Without thinking (I mean, a totally empty mind, so I think it was a kind of intuitive push), I emptied the thing and handed it over to her. She was shocked, I think she babbled a little. But she was very, very happy.

 It's good to leave a little happiness behind.

This morning I woke up to this! A gift from a kindred spirit, Lynn Whipple xo.