Terrence, from New Orleans to Bowie

Washington, DC--My dear friend, Sandy, came by to visit today. It was really nice seeing her and, as is our ritual, we had coffee and chatted for hours.

I was reminded of how we go through life creating our own families... loving and missing a parade of "strangers" that become our lives. Several years ago, she gave me a job at Caribou Coffee Shop, right after I came to the United States -- even though she wasn't always certain what I was saying. (It does take some people a while to get used to my accent.)

Sandy had always admired my poster (made from my own photo) of Terrence the New Orleans saxophone player. So, today I sent Terrence home with her to Bowie. I am sure he will play lovely jazz music for her like he used to do at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, where I met him some 15 years ago -- long before Hurricane Katrina drove him away.