In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion.

"'In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion,'" she repeats, making sure

of it. If she had paper and pencil, it wouldn't surprise me if she wrote it down.

"So what does that really mean? In simple terms."

I think it over. It takes me a while to gather my thoughts, but she waits

patiently.

"I think it means," I say, "that chance encounters are what keep us going.

In simple terms."

She mulls that over for a while, then slowly brings her hands together on

top of the table and rests them there lightly. "I think you're right about that--

that chance encounters keep us going."