Mona -- the gifted and blessed one.

I’m intrigued by Mona. The desk clerk/manager at the Majestic Hotel. In Chicago. Where I stayed several nights. Last week. With my Italian true love. We engaged Mona in good conversation. For 90 minutes. That’s the way life should be. Meeting strangers. And getting to know significant things. About each other. Right off the bat. Mona is 44. Has a son. Age 20. Mona is Mona. Very much alive. And thriving. Because her parents-to-be met at UCLA. Father from India. Mother from Spain. Dad is an intellectual, of sorts. Ruled largely by his mind. Mom has a Spanish temperament. Ruled mostly by her emotions. Mona is an interesting blend of her parents.  Intelligent. Emotional. A romantic. A good conversationalist. Because she’s interested in people. In travelers. In strangers. Anyone.  Isn’t afraid to talk about personal stuff. My kind of human being. Decent. Inquisitive. Curious. Dad was in an accident. Fifteen years ago. He’s paralyzed. Which means he has to live/thrive by using his mind. And he does. With the help of a devoted wife. I like their story. About life. Because Mona is in it. She tells the story well. And makes friends. Of strangers. Oh, so easily. That makes her gifted. And blessed. –Jim Broede