Just Say Yes

I thought for sure I would be writing about the VSLA 2023 conference today. But that's not the story I'm going to tell. I'll save that for another time.

Today, I'm writing about what happened after the conference because it's something I've never done before. 

I exited the Marriott and headed over to d'Egg Diner for lunch. A gorgeous woman was in front of me waiting to talk to someone to be seated. She turned and started talking to me. I asked her if she was eating by herself because she was so pleasant and it seemed as if she was alone, too.

She pointed at her husband, who was over looking out the window, and said she wasn't but that sometimes it felt that way. He didn't miss the opportunity to poke fun at himself and joined our conversation. Then, she extended me an invitation to eat with them.

I surprised myself and said, "Yes!"

What ensued was one of the most interesting conversations I have ever had. Considering I'm a teacher, an author, and a podcaster, saying it was one of the most interesting conversations I have ever had is saying something!

First of all, she is a pilot. Have you ever met a female pilot? I hadn't. Not until today.

She flies private charter planes. Not the small ones, planes the size of a Southwest jet and has a variety of clients such as businesses, sports teams, and very wealthy families. I don't know everywhere she flies, but I know at a very minimum, she flies all over the country and Northern Europe.

That alone would have made the conversation interesting.

But that was not all.

It turns out she and her husband started the toy company Fun in Motion Toys. I hadn't heard of it, and considering it's a newer company, I figured I had never used one of their toys.

Wrong!

Their company produces Shashibo-the award-winning shape shifting box. Over eggs benedict, chocolate chip pancakes, and fruit cups I heard how they got into the toy business, how they started it up while holding full-time jobs(which they both still have) and how they almost quit before they joined forces with a German creator and launched Shashibo into the world.

I Googled Shashibo. "I have one of these in my house!" I exclaimed. "I bought them as stocking stuffers for my sons."

"Where did you buy it from?" they asked.

"The Paper Store," I said.

They smiled and nodded and we spent a minute raving about The Paper Store.

Anyway, the whole meal was delightful and it all happened on a whim just because I said, "Yes."