Recently, a high school classmate wrote a book about his near-death experience. Without the internet and online career networking, I wouldn’t have known. I read his book and consider him a hidden gem. I wouldn’t have guessed he had such wisdom and insight when we took chemistry together.
The lesson is to take more interest in people. I studied networking. The message: meet everyone at an event, but don’t linger. See the gem potential, but quickly. We don’t have all day to get rich.
This reminded me of my mother, a good networker, though not a business tycoon, but a waitress in the coffee shop in our town’s only supermarket. If someone needed a good used car, she put the word out. If a family had children my age, she made a play date. Once she found a college student from Russia to rent a room from my aunt.
But the most important networking my mother ever did was when I was 7 and my dog got lost. Rhondi, a dachshund, also known as a “wiener dog,” went out for a poop and did not return. I was heartbroken. I could not eat. I could not sleep. I could not pay attention in school. This went on for days.
My mother made sure everyone knew about the lost dog and broken-hearted child, until a big, strong truck driver found her. He remembered the sad story of the little girl and missing dog as he was driving through our town one day. He jumped out of his truck and cornered Rhondi in a garage. Can you imagine the joy on Mama’s face when he carried Rhondi into the coffee shop?
My broken heart was mended because my mother could see the gem in a total stronger. I want to carry this lesson forward and be more like her.
I told this story on Arts Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Dorothea Dix Unitarian Universalist Church, DDUUC.org. My author-classmate is Mike Hardman and his book is Heartman, available from Amazon.
Copyright 2025 Christina Sturgis, All Rights Reserved.