Seeing a person occasionally then receiving an unexpected heartfelt letter from that person can be a pleasant shock.

This particular shock was wonderful because it traveled from an extreme distance, and was handwritten by a quiet, intellectual I barely know. In this day and age, it takes time and effort, motivation and willingness to be open-hearted.

Beyond that, in reviewing my most recent audiobook, he revealed a depth of understanding that told me, when it comes to viewing life, he and I are on the same page.

He tagged along with me on "Bouceabout" in Western Australia, held empathy with me for "Tira" during Mardi Gras, shared my solitude on "The Trip", and witnessed with me the Lord's miracle of "Sunset Through the Trees" though we live thousands of miles apart.

My "candid humor" made him laugh aloud during "If Only" and "Relatively Speaking". We yearned together throughout "Some Day" and moved in synch "With These Feet".

We agreed that even though life is full of mist and mud which we all must walk through, we should jump into life's puddles with "gleeful joy and frivolity, rather than trying to fearfully and cautiously avoid them".

I am blessed to have connected with him. He is both wise and otherwise.