I made a new friend today

I was taking a walk. I had the walking, sampling lunch at Costco (because it's a good way to get steps in), with the intention of stopping at Harry's Family Restaurant for Pi(e) on Rounded Pi Day (3.1416). On my way back from Costco, I had to cross a couple of streets "with" this dude who lived walking distance to the shop where his car was getting some work done, so at each intersection, we chatted briefly about the beautiful day we were walking in. Then I crossed a particular street against the pedestrian light but with the traffic light, and left ol' Mitch in my dust. I only know his name because he answered his phone at one intersection with "This is Mitch". We both continued in the same direction but no longer kept pace with each other.

I ended up at Harry's. I asked the chick at the host station (who ended up being my server) whether they had any specials for Pi Day. She was lost; didn't know about Pi Day. She came over to wait on me, and I told her I wanted pie. Brought me my choice (banana cream) and went to let another lone diner get seated. I could tell that the new diner was also there for just pie (because she was ordering the cherry as she was sitting), so I invited her to join me at my table.

Sarah has been in town for 21 years. She's worked in the industry for 12. She started way-the-hell outta town, like I did when I first arrived, knowing nothing about the industry she was trying to break into, like I did, and somehow found her way to her present situation, like I did. She had worked as a page, giving walking tours at NBC, as well as doing the scripted backlot tours at the Universal Studios Theme Park. I, as you know, have been a tour guide at Warner Bros.

She has dabbled in background acting and PA work, and is currently a Story Producer for reality television. She has had some family issues back home in Wisconsin that she occasionally gets to travel for. It's not the kind of travel she has in mind (she's hoping to go somewhere she's never been), but she works gig to gig to be able to save up for that kind of travel. We have common themes in our lives, Sarah and I, and our pie-for-lunch was really a great time of conversation. I was initially on my phone, planning to post a Facebook status for Pi Day. She took a picture of her pie with her phone to post later on Instagram. We both put our phones down, face down, and enjoyed our getting-to-know-you time.

As we were leaving, she realized she hadn't ordered the minimum required for credit card use, so she got another slice of pie to go. I paid cash for mine, and we walked out together, continuing our talk. She took my name, number, and email down on the back of a business card, letting me know that if she hears of anything for which I would be suited, she would refer me. I'm hoping that she'll look me up on IMDb and possibly Google me to find this blog if she feels as good about our interaction as I do.

I can definitely see us becoming friends. In person friends. How many of those do we have anymore? How many do YOU have?

***** at this point in the day, I have logged ~7600 steps. I'm not seeing needing to take another 2300 steps today, but I'm not dissatisfied with 7600. I'll just keep on truckin'!