There have been times over the years when I've met people with whom I have a very strong connection. Almost like two strong magnets coming together. These almost surreal connections are hard to describe. You need to experience them to fully appreciate their power, but let me relate two of them to you.
First there was Carol. Back in the early 1990s I became involved with the Greater Boston Business Council, the local GLBT professional networking group. Specially, I was working on a philanthropic project to raise money for scholarships for GLBT youth.
Carol became involved with our committee just after I did. A lesbian of the lipstick variety, Carol is warm and wonderful. Bright, funny, energetic, sparkling, smart...you name it, this woman's got it going on. We hit it off immediately.
I began to look forward to my times with Carol -- be it in committee work or just being together as friends. My mood actually went up a couple of notches just by being with her. A friend on the scholarship committee even commented on it.
"You brighten whenever you're with her."
Then there was Denise.
Denise and I worked on a national public health initiative while I was working at Boston University and she at a foundation in Chicago. We had lots of phone interactions that often went beyond the subject at hand (She had this uncanny ability to call my office just after I stepped out for a cookie break. Don't think I didn't get shit for it!). On my periodic trips to Chicago we always got together.
One time there was a major meeting in New York that Denise and I both flew in to attend. The night before, I picked her up at Newark Airport and drove to Manhattan for dinner. Coming back to New Jersey, we arrived at her hotel at midnight. Then proceeded to sit in my rental car for two and a half hours talking about anything and everything.
I don't know what it is about these amazing connections. (For the record, Denise is straight, so no jokes about being attracted to lesbians.) I've thought about these relationships over the years, especially as I have come to understand more about the energy between and among people.
This is the first post on the subject of energy. I can't explain why the connections with Carol and Denise were so strong, but I'm convinced there was some greater force at play.
It makes life interesting, giving us relationships to cherish.