Ever have one of those moments where something from your past just jumps right out at you?

You all know that sometimes my bride and I like to just jump in the car and go without any real plan.  This weekend past was one such occasion.  Friday afternoon, we grabbed our ready packed “weekend” bag (change of tie-dye undies, toiletries, change of clothes) and we headed north.  We stopped in Wilmington, NC and took the ferry over to a little place in Southport we remembered had pretty decent food.

We stopped at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks while we waited for a table, when I heard someone to my left shriek: “OMG!!! It’s that YOU Capt. Olly?”  Yeah, I dropped my drink and turned to see a familiar face.  I had arrested this young lady two years ago on several drug charges.  She was pretty messed up and I had worked a deal for her with the Prosecutor that IF she would go to rehab and stay clean until her hearing, the charges would be dropped.

At first, she didn’t like the idea of HAVING to get help, but she took the offer instead of jail.  When the day came for her trial, I was there to speak on her behalf.  She had done everything asked of her (graduated rehab, stayed clean, etc.).  The charges were dropped and I told “Sheila” that I was proud of her AND if she needed a recommendation for a job, let me know.  

Actually I expected Sheila to do disappear back into the “netherworld” as so many have before, but a few days after her hearing she called and asked if I would write her that letter I promised.  I got the address from her, wrote the letter, and that was that.  Hadn’t heard from her until this past Saturday when she shrieked!

She insisted that we wait for a table to clear in her area and I’ll admit it, I watched her.  I watched her with the “cop-eye” to see how she acted, interacted, reacted.  I subtly observed her mannerisms to see if she had any “tells” that she was using again.  She was attentive to all of her customers.  And when we had finished our meal, we got ready to leave, Sheila hugged me and told me that the letter I had written had gotten her a job as a server in a restaurant which led to this job AND she was going to school.  She asked me if she could keep in touch and let me know how she was doing.  I hesitated, still a little stunned, and felt my bride poke me in the back. So we stayed the weekend, and we treated Sheila to Brunch in Wilmington AND we exchanged information to keep in touch.

You never know what will happen when you reach out. But sometimes, just sometimes, you get happily surprised.