At the conclusion of our session, Sammy walked me out to my car. Expressing appreciation for having met her, I said shyly, “I feel like we’re actually friends now.” She assured me with her beautiful, melodically warm laugh. “Well, I would hope so!” she said, gently punctuating the air. I hugged her goodbye.
We were wrapping things up, going over some last notes, when to schedule our next session…when Sammy surprised me. “I was wondering if you’d like to go on a hike with me,” she said. “That way we can continue our conversation out in nature. I think better, and converse better, when I’m moving.”
I would have gone along with her for an oil change, so this was an easy yes for me. Not that I was much of a hiking person myself. What always sounded better to me was driving to a pretty spot and parking myself there with a good book and a good IPA. But I suppose with the right person…walking and talking sounded pretty nice. And I was just stoked to be going anywhere with this particular human. I said yes.
Sammy continued talking as she started up the porch steps to her house. “I won’t be able to go until after Superbloom and I return from our trip…. We’re taking a little time to reconnect and celebrate my birthday.” She’d be out of cell range, unavailable for a few days. They’d come back home on her actual birthday and then were busy with other engagements, so it would be a couple of weeks until we could get together. I was bummed to miss the big day, bummed that I wouldn’t be able to talk to her…but I was really happy to be making arrangements to meet. Swept up by feelings of celebration for her, I rushed the steps to her porch and leaned into Sammy for another hug, wishing her a happy birthday.
She returned my embrace, and then….
She was gone! We had been standing there talking face to face, and now she took off across the porch, down the stairs, across the driveway, and up a ladder onto the top of this shed-like structure before I even knew what was happening. I took that as my cue to leave. I had detained her too long, first with an hour and a half massage, then with small talk, and now with a hug and that one extra hug.
I turned and looked up at Sammy. She uttered something about checking on the bees to whom she gestured with her arms, standing high up there. I was intrigued and must have looked like it because then she invited me to come up. But a hint is a hint; I didn’t want to overstay. Although the invitation was graciously extended, I politely declined. I crafted some final goodbye words and went away.
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Driving home, I was a little confused. Just as I was feeling pulled in closer, which is clearly what I wanted as far as Sammy was concerned, at the last minute, I felt led away. I was determined not to let my sensitivity over these collected details affect my emotions or interfere with the things I had to do in life. “No bad emotions,” my foot. Probably all made up by someone with pretty weak sauce to begin with. I kept my head down (metaphorically) and just kept driving.
When I arrived home, I had this text from Sammy:
“Thank you for wading through my sometimes shy and awkward presentation. It is such a pleasure to be slowly getting to know you in different ways. Thank you for that delight :)”
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