Saturday. I’m in line to take the ferry back to Seattle. The line is long, snaking around the building leading onto the loading dock. Our loading dock. I can’t remember if she started the chat or if I did. Next thing we knew, we had spoken for 45 minutes straight. Like we’ve known each other our whole lives.

I know people to whom this happens. It rarely happens to me. When it does, it leaves a mark. Usually, a big one.

She’s a storyteller. She’s an actor. She’s a researcher. She’s a professor. She knows things. An absolutely fascinating human being, I didn’t want our 50 minutes together to end. I know I will see her again, some day and somewhere.

I’m grateful for these moments of weird but lovely synchronicity. People who show up out of nowhere and say or do things to delight others—without being trite or simplistic—these people we need to treasure more. Give them an audience.

Grateful to have met you, Carolyn Finney. More than you can possibly know.