Unexpected Day

I have had the most unexpected day. I don't know if I can even adequately describe it:

Okay, so it started off that Chris was carpooling with this guy from work (the survey job -- only one more day left!), and they'd become pretty good friends. Chris had told me something about how this guy had just moved back, after having lived in South America for a couple of years, and that he's a writer but he's re-establishing himself right now. I guess I found it kind of strange that this guy had his own business card -- just name and e-mail address.

A few days ago, Chris came home and said we had to pray for Brian, because his temporary living situation had fallen through and he was trying to find a place to live (but you really can't take possession of most apartments until the first of the month). And so I wasn't exactly surprised last night, when Chris called and asked if Brian could stay with us for one night (he's going to stay at a hostel for the rest of the month, but he couldn't get in until tonight). I had quite a few reservations about this (would this be just one night, I would be left alone with him after Chris left for training in the morning), but Chris told me to trust him on this one.

And I was surprised. I guess I assumed a lot about what this "Brian" would be like: early-thirties, kind of a slacker type. Instead, he's somewhere around my parents' age, and is the type of guy your dad would go golfing with, for an important business meeting. Head full of grey hair. Educated, well-read. Quick-talking entrepeneur type. The guy brought along pâté. (And gave us groceries, in exchange for taking him in for a night! I really can't complain about that.)

This morning, he spent some time writing (including e-mailing his family to reassure them that he is okay) and then he came out and we had a good talk while I washed dishes. He explained quite a bit more about how he ended up in this place, and we commiserated from opposite sides of the spectrum, about how hard it is to get started in this city. His advice is that I have a mid-life crisis young, because it's more difficult starting over, the older you get.

What a strange day. I'm still mulling it over. And still finishing those dishes. Remind me: why do I leave them for so long?