Ok so bear with me as I set this story up. It is the week of November 26, 2018 and I am flying to a management meeting in our office in Arlington VA. The weather is expected to be cold that week with forecasts in the 30s (0 and below C.) The forecast for arrival at Reagan National – DCA is expected to between 40-50 (4-10C.) I landed at 7 PM and it was a little warmer than expected around 51 (11C.) I had carry on so I got to the taxi line quickly for the short ride to the hotel. I am wearing my lightweight squashable parka (it fits into my carry on) that can handle the 30s, so I was a little warm but comfortable.

The line was long but moving, and people kept joining behind me. About 3-4 people behind, I noticed a lady, let’s call her Ruth. She was wearing a long parka, a fur hat, gloves and winter boots. She was ready for the cold! Now feeling a little warm, I glanced over to look a few times and thought to myself “this is strange – it’s just not that cold.” I couldn’t help myself; “Hi there, if you don’t mind me asking, are you really that cold?” She gave me a funny look through her glasses; “No, I am dying, I just have carry on and there was no room in the overhead so I had to wear it all on the flight from NY.”

And then she completely stunned me! “Are you José?”

I spluttered, “what?” “who?” “say again?” “WTF?” No I didn’t say that, but it was ringing loud and clear from my inner voice….

So it turned out that Ruth and I worked for the same company, and in different parts. We were going to separate meetings, we had never met, but we had spoken once, just once for about 15 minutes in March of that year, following the death of my colleague and associate Patrick. She had remembered my obvious accent – I obviously did not remember hers!!! What a small small world. Strangely, our paths crossed again as we ended up working together for the next three years, we worked well together and had many laughs, I would call Ruth my friend. How could you not?

“Are you José?” I am indeed……….🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻

Ps It was cold that week, really cold.