Encounters of the Highest Order

In a Museum Gift Shop
Kelowna, British Columbia

There have been those times when traveling that I find myself truly in a state of flow, quite caught up in the sounds, smells, tastes, conversations and feel of a place. So it was today for about three hours. Barbara was suddenly interested in visiting several of the art galleries in the downtown cultural district. I was quite happy to go along for this miniature expedition six blocks to the east.

I was to have a nice little odyssey. Before going into these galleries we made a stop in the small Apple Orchard History Museum that is located in the next block from many of the galleries. Besides providing a most pleasing sense of the history of fruit growers in this valley, I was to experience the great joy of travel - meeting someone that scratches a deep itch of the soul, normally far out of reach. The young blonde blue-eyed curator of this museum engaged me in conversation and with her smile had me wondering if I could immigrate here next week, despite being newly bankrupt in the aftermath of the stock market meltdown.

There have been those moments in life overseas when my life will intersect with that of someone else and for a few moments the result is electric, intoxicating, and fertile ground for the most incredible imaginings. I once wrote a poem called “Intersections” that described these chance encounters. I left that diminutive one-room museum uplifted and validated and feeling like I was dead center in the stream of life. When leaving that museum, each time I looked back, she still was smiling at me with that smile I will remember for years. I recall a similar experience on the London Underground. I met a woman on one of the District Line platforms who shared her conversation and radiant smiles with me. I still remember that encounter as if it was ten minutes ago and not ten years.

Barbara and I went on to several galleries and saw magnificent paintings all priced in 4-5 figure ranges and had splendid conversation with the owners and in one case the very engaging daughter of successful international art dealers. A respite in a tea room between gallery hops afforded exotic African tea, mesmerizing Indian music, inspiring reading, and good conversation, this all in a place smaller than my bedroom. This little tea room felt like some kind of ecumenical epicenter of the world. It was a most grand experience – educating me about music, culture, religion, and being present to the moment.

Yet, I believe the little apple orchard museum will be what I remember with the most affection about my time in the Okanagan Valley. I think I will eat apples with a renewed interest and reverence from here on.