i have a bunch of very sweet red grapes for dinner, rather i had... thankfully i was able to take photos first before one made it to my mouth or i'd be blank again for today.
i had a strange encounter after lunch today when i went for my walk. a woman driving an SUV pulled over and chatted me up. she seemed so sure she knew me, even asked me how my sister was and if my brother was well. she wasn't asking me anything in particular, for example, she only asked me if my brother was well, didn't say anything about his actual medical condition, and of course, i didn't offer any further information. i could see in her eyes that she was rather sincere and seemed interested. she did ask me "how's the sweetheart?" and i asked "which one?" to which she just gave a hearty laugh, and said "you're always so funny."
as i was conversing, i kept a good grip on my purse -- i come from a third world country in a city with a high crime rate and where grabbers and pickpockets run rampant, so it's a natural reaction for me, thinking it could be a distraction. my one mistake was talking to her in front of the passenger door. but as we conversed, while i was close to the car, i stepped up by the side mirror so that if the ruse was meant to kidnap me (but why?), it would be difficult for an accomplice to pull me or push me in.
it was one of those things that make you (or me) think fast on your feet. because, i was and still am positive i did not know who the woman was -- her face was sort of familiar, but her voice wasn't. she looked well off, while not overly bejeweled and dressed decently from what i could discern. but my conclusion was that she must've mistaken me for someone else but must've realized it halfway through the conversation and just went through the charade of asking the general questions.
i think the caveat was when she said we should call and schedule a lunch. she asked if i had her cell number and i said, of course, with a roll of my eyes, as if telling her "why wouldn't i have it" kind of thing. then i asked if she still had mine, and she lifted her mobile and said "always".
the exchange was just so smooth and seemed natural that if anyone was with me she would think we actually knew each other. but i'm really sure i don't know that woman!
Weird! I would probably have been either more naive about the possibilities in that situation, or swung the other direction and not engaged in conversation with her. Nice photo of the grapes, BTW.
Well the grapes look good. How did she know you had a brother and a sister? And a sweetheart? If it’s been years since you had said sweetheart, then that tells you how long it’s been since you last saw her. A mystery for sure.
I hope you remember all of these details or at least write them down so that when you read your novel you have a portion of it that you don’t have to make up yourself!
Amazing close-up of the grapes. I will ask you the same thing I asked Maggie Mae recently, have you ever tried freezing them? They are like little Popsicles and so good to eat that way
An interesting narrative, isn't it sad that you were on guard for a mugging though? Great macro. i've never frozen grapes Katy @grammyn will give it a go tomorrow
@grammyn - i more often than not would freeze them -- wash them thoroughly with salt, lemon and warm water, roll them in paper towel to reduce moisture then sprinkle with a little bit of sugar. or in the summer i put them on ice cube trays and use the ice in juice or water so when the ice melts, you have a nice grape to suck on after the juice is gone.
@robz - haha! she'd be hard pressed to scan my one and only credit card that has nothing on it all the time. it's a prepaid credit card so i use it only when i have to which means it's the only time i put in the funds.
What an encounter - you played along very well. How frustrating to think that you will probably never know her real motivation or identity. Glad you stayed alert and were still around to enjoy those grapes later. They look good.
Amazing close-up of the grapes. I will ask you the same thing I asked Maggie Mae recently, have you ever tried freezing them? They are like little Popsicles and so good to eat that way