A Manner of Speaking May/Jun '01

Summary of Article's First 150 Words

Total word count: 494

It's been the nicest sort of day. Nothing spectacular, just several bright connections with people to buoy my spirits as I work my way through piles of projects and hundreds of messages:

_ Magela's e-mail about celebrating birthdays in Uruguay.
_ "Have a good day" and a wave from the UPS driver.
_ My Dad's first e-mail message ever.
_ A spring walk with my neighbor.
_ A leisurely dinner with family.

My days, the good ones, are built on such moments - reminders that I am a friend, a child, a lover, and a parent. But many of the exchanges that I cherish happen in the company of strangers; finding the trigger that engages the personality within a role can be like a treasure hunt.

I recognized Joe behind the fish counter. He had shared a recipe for ahi the week before, enabling me to prepare my best dish ever. Pleased that I ...