Ask me where we got our meat silverware from. It's a great story.

The two adorably well-dressed men were standing on the sidewalk on Chestnut Street, scratching their heads and looking at a map.

Suzie and I were walking on the other side of the street, on our way to get ice cream at JP licks. We were joking and laughing and going about our business, but we noticed them.

"I love his glasses!" I whispered.

"Me too! I love his entire outfit, actually," Suzie whispered back.

"Me too! Both of their outfits!"

"Do you think they're gay?"

"Um... I dunno. They look like JP people. But, they also look lost."

"Yeah..."

Their names were W and R, and they were new in town. They were looking for Centre Street. We pointed them in the right direction, we smiled and said, "welcome to JP!" and then we continued walking towards our ice cream date. It was all very simple; we hoped we did a good job of welcoming them to our little neighborhood.

However, we only made it a few steps beyond them when we heard someone behind us stumble. We looked back, and R was standing on one foot and wincing in pain.

"You shouldn't put any weight on it," W said. "Are you sure you're okay? Maybe we should head back to the apartment."

R had sprained his ankle, and he was in a lot of pain.

What should one do in such a situation? We couldn't just leave them there. Suzie ran home to get her car while I stayed with them. We made idle conversation on the stoop of the nearest house, and Suzie showed up with the car to take them back to their apartment.

BUT! Here is where everything gets interesting. As we were moving the books and siddurim from the backseat to the trunk to make room for our gentlemen in distress, Suzie explained that she always keeps the books around because she's in rabbinical school. W and R laughed--R is a pastor! In the five minute car ride back to their apartment, we struck up a lovely conversation and vowed to get together for coffee sometime.

That was last summer. Since then we have become facebook friends, but unfortunately, we haven't been able to get together for coffee. Life gets so crazy and busy sometimes! I feel terrible that our interactions have mostly been limited to "likes" on facebook; however, I still have hope that we'll get together in person soon and catch up.

I invited W and R to the wedding, and I wrote a little note on R's wall saying how I really hoped they could make it. Sadly, they won't be able to come. However, yesterday in the mail we got a package--the silverware from our registry! Along with a note so sweet it made both me and Suzie tear up. I can't believe how beautiful and serendipitous life is sometimes... the world is just so amazing. I can't wait to have them over for a meal!

 Gd bless R and W, and Gd bless JP.

Lag B Blog Day 21! Shabbat Shalom, everyone!