Dōgen

mistakenly wandered into an extremely small coffee shop with exactly one table within

an elderly woman engaged in a spirited dialogue with the proprietress stood with excitement, took my hand, and after confirming with the owner that this was, in fact, the first time she’d ever seen me, opened with basic gaijin census questions: where i’m from, what i do, etc

seemingly satisfied with my answer, she kindly said she would see me later, told to enjoy myself, and left

now, usually, when someone says they will see me later, i do not readily interpret “later” to indicate minutes beyond the current timeframe, but rather an expression of general well wishing.

so you can imagine my surprise when this same sweet older woman came pushing through the door after a momentary absence bearing two plastic grocery bags bulging with unknown contents.