A few days ago, I trekked from my bucolic Bucks County, PA home to the hustle-bustle hectic hangout of NYC. I was eagerly anticipating meeting two Facebook friends Sherri Rosen and Kurt Koontz.  I had developed distance relationships with both of them, which in these far-flung friendship via cyberspace times can still allow for emotional connection. I drove more than an hour to Trenton to catch a train and then another 90 or so minutes on the choo choo northward to the city. I parked myself in a two- seater, with my suitcase next to me on the floor.  Across the aisle was a young woman engaged in reading. In front of her was a young man, gazing intently at his smartphone. Down the stairs comes a family- a mom, dad and their two adorable little tots; looking about 2 and 5 or so. The dad had a folded up stroller for the younger boy. The young woman looks up and asks if the passenger in front of her would like to sit next to her so that the family could sit together in the four-seater. Not sure if they knew each other, but he accepted her invitation. I then asked if they wanted to store the stroller with me and I moved my suitcase under my feet.

I watched for a bit as the mom encouraged her sons to look out the windows at the scenery. They engaged in conversation about why the train kept stopping, about their trip to the city, about jails and why there were so many. The brothers were playfully hanging all over each other at certain points along the way.

When I arrived at Penn Station, I gave myself an hour to walk to the restaurant called Mangia where this grand re-union of souls was to take place, since Kurt and Sherri had not yet met either. Toting my suitcase on wheels behind me, I leisurely strolled in a way than I never had before. In the past, the frantic city pace had swept me up in its not so tender embrace and carried me along, breathless. Normally, I would have been distressed at the honking horns, cigarette smoking passersby, cars cutting each other off, people jockeying for position on the sidewalk. I decided, instead to surround myself with a love bubble. Nothing that I didn’t want to enter, could permeate it. No judgment, fear or doubt. No “What’s wrong with these people?” thoughts could sustain themselves in my mind. I could waft them aloft, just like the soap kind. I found myself laughing and smiling contentedly. I wondered if people though I was the crazy one.

Within short order, I was sitting in the restaurant after hugging a hello with Sherri whose red-haired spiritual/artistic/wild woman persona was what I had expected. She reported that I was a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of person as well and I wasn’t a surprise either. About 15 minutes passed before Kurt strolled through the door and a heart to heart hug took place there too. I stood on my toes, he bent down a little and we met in the middle. The benefit of social media is that you get a chance to see what someone looks like before meeting face to face. I suspect that I would have recognized the two of them anyway, since they are definitely kindred spirits who I have known for eons. The conversation flowed naturally during lunch, and throughout the day, as Sherri went off to a meeting and Kurt and I continued to stroll around New York City, visiting Carnegie Hall, Central Park and Times Square. My pedometer registered 11,300 steps. I had a blast talking about my favorite subject – life, the Universe and everything.

That night, he and I had the joy of hearing Mallika Chopra and Gabrielle Bernstein speak at the book launch event for Mallika’s new release called ‘Living With Intent’. The daughter of Deepak Chopra, she is an eloquent, warm and approachable speaker. As a writer, she pens words that represent her direct experience with full human emotion. She is as real as they come. Gabrielle held the space as a spiritual God-mother/sister who beamed proudly at her friend; asking her questions about the concepts described in the book. As I looked around the room in which it was held, it was easy to maintain the high that comes from being around resonant people and ideas.

It was when I was sitting in a cab, being transported to Sherri’s apartment where I was to stay that night, that I was tested again. The cab driver was listening to a radio show whose host’s political views are the polar opposite of my own. It took a great deal of reserve not to react internally. Instead, I again invoked the power of the bubble to keep me on an even keel so that I didn’t take any growly energy into Sherri’s home. I blessed the driver and the radio announcer and by the time I arrived, I felt calm.

I entered her colorful apartment that reminds me of my own eclectically decorated house. I felt right at home there and we had a slumber party ‘girl talk’ chat that had us laughing with delight at times. Not much sleep that night; still abuzz with energy from the day.

Home now, after another playful time. The things you can learn from a four year old. What is even sweeter than chocolate, is time together. I had brought my ‘grand-dude’ Collin over his Easter basket today and instead of diving into the candy; he had two small pieces in a few hour time period, he went for the bubble wand and at first wanted me to blow them so he could dance in them, wave around them, pop them and play ‘bubble boss and bubble goblin,’ a game he made up. Then it was his turn to blow them. And then he decided I was the tickle goblin. He loves to cuddle and tickle. He likes flying, so I hoisted him up and we flew around the living room and dining room. Oh and then I attempted to teach him a little yoga. He had more fun crawling underneath me when I was showing him downward facing dog.