“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (3): LOST AND FOUND – Kindred Spirits and Mistakes made in Haste.”

“Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that’s good in life…”

By Carl "J.C." Pantejo, Copyright December 2007.

(Author “My Friend Yu – The Prosperity Mentor,” Copyright August 2007. Pantejo – Y.N. Vurce Publishing.)

*Below is the third episode in a series of real life events experienced by the author. The only deviations from the truth may be the names of people and places. These stories are also incorporated in “My Friend Yu – the Prosperity
Mentor: Book II,” Pantejo – Y.N. Vurce Publishing. Release Date: 2008.

Enjoy this installment of the story, my friends.

Laugh (and learn) as you read about my ignorance, bumbling, and stumbling.

In the first and second parts of the “Experiences from ‘The Flow’ series (1) and (2),” I recounted my “used and abused” heartbreak, emotional ordeal, grief letter, recovery, and relapse.

Then I wrote about a miraculous, “chance” meeting with a beautiful Thai-looking, English speaking, foreign news reporter – a woman that had an uncanny resemblance to the main female character in my book “My Friend
Yu – The Prosperity Mentor” (written over 6 months PRIOR to meeting her!).

Spooky, huh?

Okay, here we go…

– MESMERIZED –

…“You should visit me in my country some time,” she said.

“I’d love to. How do I find you when I get there?” I asked.

“All you have to do is make it there. Believe me, just mention my name and someone will find me,” she said (matter-of-factly).

Half-jokingly, I said, “Are you telling me that you’re famous?”

“Kinda-Sorta,” she said – smiling that dazzling smile of hers.

“Wow! That’s so cool! Okay, let it be written, let it be done: Songsana owes J.C. a tour of her home country,” I said ceremoniously – complete with a poor version of an after-sale, Arabian Rug Trader’s waving,
hand-to-head gesture.

She giggled, looking even deeper into my eyes for…for what? Maybe she was thinking the same thing as I was: This person is too good to be true!

I simply smiled back at her and maintained our natural, constant, and comfortable eye contact.

Her native good looks required little to no make-up. Her eyebrows were meticulously shaped into alluring arcs over beautiful, dark brown eyes. Her eyes were framed by a modest eyeliner and a metallic (silver) eye shadow. Her flawless, fair
skin looked deliciously smooth and soft.

I was simply hypnotized.

We sat there together on the cool cement, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. We shared our personal histories. We both recounted enchanting anecdotes filled with fascinating adventures, private triumphs, and professional achievements.

The feeling was mutual: We were truly kindred spirits.

Engrossed in our conversation, we were totally oblivious to the crowds of people in the Sports Stadium.

Her advanced English skills were the result of studying at a prestigious University in the capitol city of her country (Vietnam). Her Major was in mass media/communications (Journalism).

She had been working in the field (News Reporting) since she was 16 years old. I didn’t ask her how old she was (a polite habit, a vestige, of my American upbringing).

It’s difficult to gauge the age of Asian women – especially well kept, well educated, Asian women, but my guess would be in the early twenties.

My School’s Takraw team had national notoriety, so Songsana and her camera crew were assigned to cover the athletic event. Takraw is a popular Asian sport resembling volleyball – BUT the players use their feet instead of hands.
The round, wicker Takraw ball is about the size and weight of a damp, children’s Nerf Basketball. The sport is exciting to watch. All the players display the kicking skills of any seasoned martial artist. The “flying kick serves”
and inverted, foot “spikes” are amazing.

Songsana said that her country’s top High School Takraw team was to play an exhibition match at my High School during the weekend (a few days away).

– WORK (What a nuisance) –

The High School sports event was well on its way and people were buzzing around, giving their chosen teams shoulder rubs and pep talks. Songsana and I talked for as long as we could before our co-workers and bosses found us, scolded us (for
secretly slipping away), and reminded us we had jobs to do – now!

So, grudgingly, I went to the group of foreign English teachers and Songsana rejoined the camera crew and T.V. News group.

As Songsana shot scenes from all over the Sports Stadium bleachers, track, and soccer field, I watched her professional prowess. It was obvious to me that she knew her way around and in front of a camera. Her poise reminded me of someone
long ago forgotten; another professional female whom fate matched me up with over 25 years ago (but that female was an “exchange student” soldier – and the subject of another book).

I really admired Songsana’s pleasing, but direct manner.

As we both performed our respective responsibilities, I made it a point to regain eye contact as much as possible. One time, when she was nearby, talking to her colleagues, I saw her looking at me and immediately – reflexively – smiled and
winked at her. The resulting smile on her face and sparkle in her eyes was utterly priceless.

– STUPID, QUICK GETAWAYS –

My boss huddled the foreign teachers together and announced the game plan. It was around noon and the boss wanted to make it an early day. To not arouse any suspicions, we were to surreptitiously slip away (meaning go home) one-by-one. I’ve
never turned down an early quitting time in my life, so I anxiously waited for my turn to “disappear.”

My biggest concern was making sure I said good-bye to Songsana. I volunteered to be the last foreigner to leave; mainly because Songsana was still busy shooting another scene on the track field.

Finally, it was time to make my getaway, but I still hadn’t said good-bye.

“You. Eat,” said one of my Thai teacher friends, handing me an ice-cream cone from the teacher’s canteen.

“Kaap khun kraap (thank you),” I said, taking the ice-cream cone and making a beeline to Songsana. I didn’t care if she was surrounded by the camera crew; I wasn’t leaving without saying good-bye.

“Songsana, shhhhh…I’m going home now. Don’t work too hard,” I said, and handed her the ice-cream cone.

“Thanks, J.C.,” she said with a cute smile.

And for the first time since we met, in spite of her smile, I saw a tinge of melancholy in her eyes.

– DUMB, DUMB, DUMB –

I and my friends were delighted about the unexpected free, personal time. We rendezvoused at a spot well outside the stadium and headed for the taxis home. It was great to get a half-day. I was already planning on a nice, long run and weight
workout at the fitness center.

So much had happened today. I planned to assimilate all the events while I ran on the treadmill. I could replay how Songsana and I met, talked, and spontaneously hit it off. I was so thankful that “all the planets aligned” and
in spite of tremendous odds, we met in this country, on this day, and at this place.

Then I realized something that made me feel supremely stupid (dumber than dumb!).

IN MY HASTE TO LEAVE WORK EARLY, I FORGOT TO OFFER SONGSANA MY PHONE NUMBER OR TO EVEN ASK FOR HERS!

I didn’t know where she was staying in Thailand and I couldn’t call her.

I couldn’t even call her when she returned back to her country.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!…

(In the next article in this series, “Experiences from ‘the Flow’ (4): LOST AND FOUND: The Benevolent Hand of the Universe,” you will read how – in spite of my ineptness – the gentle hand of the Universe kept nudging
me back towards Songsana.)

Until then, find “The Flow” and jump in!

Stickman's thoughts:

Dumb indeed!