Delayed Contact

How would you get along with your sibling(s), parent(s), or any other person you’ve known for a long time — if you only met them for the first time today?

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Well, good grief. How do I know? If I’ve never met them before, I can’t make any predictions. I know nothing about them. So I would do what I always do when I meet someone new.

“Hi, nice to meet you!”
“Good to meet you, too, Linda. I’ve hear so much about you.”

“Uh-oh. It always makes me nervous to hear that! Please don’t form an opinion before I have a chance to redeem my reputation.”

“Oh, no, nothing bad, believe me. So, are you still working as a therapist?”

“Yes, I am. Love my work. What about you? Are you working outside the home?”

“Yes. I’ve been a teacher for years, and I, too, love my work.”

“Well, then, we should have a lot to talk about. I was a teacher before I switched career paths 15 years ago and became a counselor. What age, or subjects, do you teach?”

And we’re off! This person will probably become at least a pleasant acquaintance, if not a valued friend.