One of my favorite things . . .

. . . is when I go someplace in the Nashville area and unexpectedly see someone I know.

I think it all started for me when I was a little girl and would go to visit my grandparents (either set, but I especially have memories of this happening with my mom's parents). Maw-Maw and Granddaddy lived in Bel Air, Maryland, a small town north of Baltimore, where my mom grew up. They were active in their church and had each lived there most of their adult lives, so when we would go to the Harford Mall or to Thrift Drugstore, we'd inevitably run into someone that they knew. Usually, it was also someone who knew my mom as well, so they'd introduce me as "Nancy's daughter." I just loved that feeling of being a part of a community and knowing that people knew who we were.

Since Nashville is quite a bit larger than Bel Air, and I didn't grow up here, it took a while before I'd run into anyone I knew at the mall or out at a restaurant. But now that I've lived here for all of my adult life (over 23 years), I sometimes unexpectedly see someone I know when I'm out and about. And it never fails to make me happy! Today, it happened twice, so I got a double thrill!

First, I went to lunch with a friend and while we were finishing up, two friends from a church we used to be members of came in and we chatted for a minute. It was fun to catch up and tell each other how old our kids are now and spend time remembering experiences we all shared back then.

Then, for supper, Daniel and I went to Chick-fil-A in Brentwood before heading to church. While we were still walking across the parking lot, I spotted some friends from Grace, and we got to sit with some of them while we ate. In fact, we actually saw three GCC families while we were there!

I think Maw-Maw and Granddaddy would have been proud!