Soul Sister

The rental car office was several city blocks away.  Kathy, Karen and I had just departed the train in downtown Portland. A girls weekend in Oregon's wine country promised laughs, wine and a half marathon.  Pulling our luggage behind us, we made the journey through parts of Portland's under-belly.   Soon enough we found ourselves in more desirable neighborhoods and closer to getting our rental car.  We still had about an hour's drive to our hotel.

A glass front to a tiny office being the only indication we found our place.  Concrete walls enclosed a rental counter, two computers and a tiny reception area.  The only color to be seen, or felt, came when our personalities walked through the door.  

Laughter, jokes and the joy of a weekend away with friends started 6 hours prior when we departed town.  Our entire trip took whole new meaning after meeting a fabulous family from a tiny town in southern Washington.  Fran, a woman who's smile never left her face, introduced us to her "boyfriend of 59 years".  A couple traveling with their daughter and grand-daughters helped the hours pass quickly by listening to their stories of love, heartache and adventure.  Together they told stories of their 8 children and 59 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  When we parted ways, they promised to put on a 5k on their property if we'd come down and run it.  Without hesitation we told them yes and to make it a fundraiser for their grandchildren's love of horse archery.

The quiet little rental office, exploded with the energy we brought.  However, there was no one there to enjoy it.  Shortly thereafter, a man, looking much like an old dowdy college professor, walked in the room.  His words were short and to the point.  As Kathy was in charge of securing our rental car, she went through the process of completing the paperwork.

A chime rings and the door opens.   A mother and daughter walk in and come to the counter.  A woman from the back room comes out to help them.  She has a dynamic personality.  The mother-daughter duo and Ms. Personality were fun to watch.  The 3 of us are now determined to make Mr. College Professor laugh; alas to no avail.  Karen and I sit down as the counter is a little crowded with all of us there.

Soon I am called up to the counter as Kathy has listed me as a second driver.  The daughter is also being listed as a second driver.  Mr. College Professor repeats his memorized speech informing Kathy and I that she is responsible for all damages to the car regardless of who is driving.  

Naturally I ask, "Does this include me taking the car at 100 mph and launching it off the city street hills?"    

He glances up looking at me above the rims of his black framed glasses, "Yes".

The daughter says, "MOM!  I'm going to do that too!"

Mr. College Professor doesn't glance up, doesn't acknowledge any of our banter.  He slips me a paper to sign and states, "Lucky for you two every day at 3:00 pm we close the streets of Portland for Second Drivers.  In that time frame you can do whatever you want to the rental cars."

The daughter and I exclaim, "YES!" in unison and give each other a high five.

Mr. College Professor does have a sense of humor.
 
Ms. Personality leaves to retrieve the mother - daughter rental car.   The mother leaves to use the restroom and the daughter takes a seat. 

Karen calls out my name. From the rental counter, I turn to look at her and she motions with her eyes toward the daughter at the same time she touches the forearm of her left hand.

Looking at the daughter's arm, I see the big, bold lettering of a tattoo with the recognizable words "It Is What It Is".  I was surprised and said to her, "I like your tattoo" and I pointed to her arm.  

She rubs it fondly and says, "Thank you.  I got it to honor my dad."

"Really?  Why?"

"My dad had pancreatic cancer.  That saying was his mantra."

I blinked in total disbelief.  Kicking off my sandal to reveal my tattoo, I said "My mom's too."

She looked up at me, down at my foot, and back up to me.  "Are you serious?"

"Yes.  My mom fought ovarian cancer for 16 1/2 years.  My sisters and I had the mantra tattooed on our feet in Mom's very own handwriting."

"That is so cool."  She stared at my foot. "That saying got my dad through a lot."

"My Mom too.  It was never a saying of defeat, it was always a saying of 'Ok, this is what I'm dealing with, let's go fight it.' "

"Exactly.  Never, ever an admission of giving up."

"Always a declaration of the starting point."

"Yes.  I'm sorry about your mom."

"I'm sorry about your dad."

Our rental car has pulled up and I am called outside by my friends.  We stand at the rental car loading in our luggage.  

The door opens and the mother comes out.  

"Excuse me.  Can I see your tattoo?"

"Absolutely."  I take off my sandal and show her my mom's handwriting.  The mother smiles and looks up at me.

"As I came out of the restroom, my daughter said to me, 'Mom, I just met my soul sister.'  I couldn't believe the story she was telling me.  Losing my husband has been so hard.  What an amazing story you two share."

"This wasn't a chance encounter, and one we'll both share forever.  I'm so grateful we met today.  Tell your daughter I'll see her at 3 for the 2nd Driver Race."

As quickly as we met, we parted ways.  Our journeys going now in separate directions, but forever entwined.

When we set out for our girls weekend away, I never dreamed I would meet my soul sister.  A good reminder for me that we all have stories.  If we stop and take a moment to look at each other, talk to each other and listen you just might find a strong connection you never knew existed; a tie that binds.

And I found mine with a stranger in a concrete rental office in downtown Portland.