"Facelook" Friends

As I ran along 8th street, 9th street, 10th street...up to 17th and home on this beautiful fall-is-in-the-air day, I smiled savoring the memory of yesterday's lunch with friend Corrine, a retired 4th grade teacher and true kindred spirit.  Corrine had recently re-read two of my books,  Sunny Holiday and Dreamsleeves, and invited me for lunch at the  fancy Provence restaurant in Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, to tell me what she thought of them.  She had several pages of notes -- such a gift for an author always hungry to know the work matters and lives on.  Comfortably nestled in a back corner booth, we took our leisure catching up, making connections, enjoying the delicious food, bringing tears to each other's eyes with open heart sharings and much, much laughter.  Before I realized it, nearly 3 hours had gone by and the restaurant was empty.   But I was full.  Full with the joy one gets when spending time with a friend who is right in front of you, eyes to eyes, smile to smile.  A friend who really sees you.  Facelook friends.  Spark.