Basin faces a welcome sight outside area

Running into a Columbia Basin resident outside of the Columbia Basin can be a positive experience.

For instance, I recently went home to Spokane to hear one of my most favorite authors, Chris Crutcher, read from and discuss his latest book, "Deadline," at a Spokane bookstore.

While browsing the aisles waiting for the event to start, I noticed a familiar-looking fellow customer, who was soon joined by his wife, which confirmed my suspicions: It was a Moses Lake couple sighting outside of Moses Lake.

By the power of sheer coincidence, we happened to be at the same place to hear the exact same author.

The residents got to meet my parents, who were accompanying me for shopping purposes, and then we all sat next to each other as we listened to Crutcher speak, marveling at the author's words as we marveled over the fact it's a small world.

Maybe it wasn't the same as running into a George resident while vacationing in Washington, D.C., or trekking across the Antarctic only to bump into someone recruiting employees to Othello, but it was still a cool little moment all the same.

It feels a little like, "Hey - I know that person!" Plus there's the added fun of seeing a fellow Basin resident (note to self: Try to get the term 'Basinonian' to catch on) at play. Which, for the record, is always possible when listening to Crutcher speak. He's a hoot and a half and his books effortlessly balance the line between comedy and drama, while stressing the importance to be there for America's youth.

Not only did my sighting of the Moses Lake reiterate further our gladness upon seeing each other at subsequent events back at home, but now that tiny moment of running into each other in the aisles has given us a shared history.

The next few times we see each other, we probably will remember our surprise at seeing each other, the fun of listening to Crutcher and the discussion about the hour and a half-long trip back to Moses Lake later in the evening.

And how nice we were all out doing something to stretch our minds and enjoy an experience we could all treasure forever.

That's the kind of thing I never mind getting caught doing, no matter who it is in the next aisle over.