“Oh, I Know Who You Are . . .”

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My face and I have had a strange few days.

Encounter One: On our way out of town to celebrate Easter with Bethany and her family, Ray asked me to buy some sourdough bread at the local Saturday morning farmers’ market. While he and Mother waited in the car, I browsed among the stands of organic vegetables and eggs and meats and homemade soaps and goodies.

One stand stood out from the others because it was selling children’s books. I  had not yet noticed that they were all from a well-known publisher who sells books at home parties, when the saleslady asked, “Are you familiar with ____ books?”

“Yes, we write homeschool curriculum and I often see them at homeschool conventions,” I responded.

“Oh, I know who you are,” the homeschooling mama/bookseller replied. I’m not really sure how she knew me. Perhaps she is familiar with our curriculum or perhaps she has been to one of Mary Evelyn’s plays. We had a nice conversation before I headed back to the car.

Encounter Two: After all our errands in town, we finally got on the road to Bethany’s. Along the way, we stopped at a gas station/restaurant for a late lunch. Anxious to get to Bethany’s house, Ray and I decided to break our no meals in the car rule just this once.

While he and Mother waited in the car again, I went in and tried (rather unsuccessfully) to find something healthy. As I waited for our order to be cooked, a man about my age waited for his own takeout order. We had had no interaction at all, but after he received and paid for his order, he turned toward me, began walking in my direction, and said, “Oh, I know who you are . . .”

Since we were a couple of hours from our house and in the middle of nowhere, I replied, “I doubt it,” and told him the town where we live.

“Oh, I thought you lived in my trailer park,” he said.

Encounter Three: On Thursday during the early hours of the homeschool convention in Cincinnati, I had a boy-was-my-face-red moment. I stumbled slightly when my toe hit the carpet just before I got on an escalator. A mother and her daughter were standing just inches away. I looked at them sheepishly and embarrassed and then got on the escalator. I didn’t notice that they got on behind me until we were almost to the next floor and I heard the mama say, “I appreciate your daily encouragements . . .” This began a sweet conversation that made my day!

Encounter Four: The Hilton Cincinnati Netherlands Plaza Hotel offered great rates to families attending the homeschool convention, so we decided to stay there, too. It is by far the fanciest hotel Ray and I have ever stayed in. I look forward to telling you about its history later this week.

On Saturday night, after we finished taking down our booth, . . .

. . . we were ready to celebrate. First we enjoyed a potluck supper in the hotel room of our son John and his family. Then, they, our friend Olive Wagar who helped us with the convention, and Ray and I wandered from one grand public space to another admiring the hotel’s opulent art deco style. One stop was a balcony overlooking Orchids at Palm Court, a Five Diamond restaurant, just off the hotel lobby. From the balcony, we listened to the live music and watched other guests enjoy fine dining — you know the kind with $$$ in the restaurant reviews.

Then yesterday morning, as Ray and I were waiting for an elevator in the lobby, one of the concierges walked over to me and said, “Did you enjoy the show?” I looked at him puzzled and wondered if he saw us peering over the balcony the evening before. He was as puzzled as I was when he realized that no, I wasn’t the guest he thought I was.

Evidently I have a generic face that looks like everyone’s Aunt Matilda’s cousin Louise’s sister-in-law’s second grade teacher. That’s okay. It’s the face God gave me. My face and I are looking forward to a day that you and your face are looking forward to, too.

The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;
A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.
And it will be said in that day,
“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
Isaiah 25:6-9

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