It Figures...

Miss Norma is an elegant, Southern gentlewoman who lives in my neighborhood and heads our Forsythia Club. At just about 80 yrs of age, she is a little dynamo; she and her husband Colonel Bill (A true, blue Kentucky Colonel) took a cotton to me almost since the day I moved here, most likely because I had been a lead teacher for Head Start and the Colonel had been commissioned to organize Head Start in this area.

Unfortunately, we lost Bill a few months ago, a great loss to the world. He was a genuine gentleman and we all loved him. I have not seen Miss Norma much at all, but when I have seen her in passing, maybe going by in her car or working in her yard, she's looked sad, of course, but seemed to be coping quite well.

Today, I ws standing at the door to my book store, greeting customers, when a little elegant Southern gentlewoman entered.

"Oh my goodness, it's Miss Norma!" I thought to myself.."she looks so thin."

She looked at me and smiled. I walked over to her, wrapped my arms around her slender body and hugged her. I did not want to let her go and she hugged me back. We stood there hugging away for a few minutes before I let go.

She stood there and stared at me.

"You DO look somewhat familiar.." she said.

And then realized..it was not Miss Norma. In fact, it was nobody I had ever seen before.

Boy, did I ever feel like an idiot.

'UM, ma'am, where do you live?" I asked, nervously.

She named a town about an hour up the road.

Nope, definitely not Miss Norma.

She stood there and smiled at me (thank God!). I explained I thought she was someone else and told her I was sorry. She patted my arm.

"It's okay, honey. Maybe we'll end up best friends.."

Unfortunately, a couple of our regulars witnessed this all and word spread quickly of my stupid move.

The ribbing has already begun and it'll be a long time before I live this down.