Out of my hands

I crossed paths with Isabelle in the early morning but she didn't recognize me at all. I hadn't seen her until the last minute and then suddenly my brain went into recognition mode. 

She is probably in her late 40's now and we worked together until she left for a competitor some years before I retired. Had she been walking alone I would have stopped to greet and perhaps shock her but she was accompanied by someone I didn't know. 

I knew to leave well enough alone. 

This phase of my life has become interesting because who knows and doesn't know about me has now fallen out of my hands. I don't care because I am not hiding but I am also not making an announcement on any large platforms. 

This morning when Justin served me my coffee I was standing next to a lady roughly my age who frequents the same spot. I say hello to her briefly and there was some additional banter which resulted in her finding out I was retired. 

"She's retired" she says as she turns to Justin who simply nods. 

"I think it's going to be September for me" she says as she walks out the door with her coffee and croissant. 

Who knows, maybe we'll compare notes one day.