Chapter 2

Chapter 2

There are many ways to start life anew. Getting busy is one of them. In some ways, it wasn’t as hard as she had thought. Since she and Harold had lived apart for months, she had grown accustomed to living alone and fending for herself. One egg took pretty much the same time as two,

She found herself thanking her parents for instilling in her the joy of reading. Henry’s list, while daunting, gave her marvelous new insights into herself as well as business. She found that she had encountered a lot of what she read through personal experiences, and it made her more comfortable moving ahead. Senge’s piece on the parable of the lily pads was one such example.

She imagined a lake in her mind, with one lily pad floating in its center. On the second day, there were two, then four, then eight, as each day the number doubled. One lily pad was cute, so was a small cluster. But a lake covered in lilies is a threat to the lake and its inhabitants, blocking life giving sun and depleting oxygen. It was a metaphor for the last few years with Harold. First, a drink, then two.

The week went by in a flash and when Henry’s call came she was ready.

“Alison, this is Henry Lampert. How are you?”

A full smile filled her face. She could feel the warmth of a glow filling her.

“I’m fine, Henry, and how are you?”

Small talk ensued. She found herself opening up, sharing her thoughts and, as he spoke, imagining what life like in Japan, sitting in meetings, experiencing community baths, going to Kabuki theater.

“Have you had a chance to read any of the books I suggested?”

Her lungs filled with pride. “Yes, I have. I finished The Fifth Discipline. I am half way through Joel Barker and I’ve taken in a few chapters of Margaret Wheatley.”

Quiet.

“All this in a week? That’s impressive - and unusual. Share with me what you’ve learned.”

“Well, for starters……”

As quickly as the call had started it was over. Forty minutes, she found, is not enough time. As he brought the session to a close, Henry offered some new assignments.

“Take some quiet time to note what you think are the most important parts of what you have read. Relate it to your past experiences with the ACS and other assignments. What would you have done differently then if you had known what you know now?”

Alison scribbled notes as he spoke and found herself wanting to see him.

“Let’s talk next week, same time. I should be back from Barcelona by then.”

Henry paused before closing. “Alison, you are truly impressive. You’ve taken on this challenge with a passion and intensity well beyond my expectations. I thank you for that.

“Until next week, then. Bye-bye.”

With that, he was gone. No lingering exit, just gone. “That’ll take some getting used to,” she thought.

The next few months of conversations mirrored the first. She read more, shared her thoughts clearly, received glowing praise and moved ahead. After a while, the mold was set. Until he returned from a trip to Thailand.

“Hell-o Henry. How was your trip.”

“Fine, thank you, and how was your week, Alison?”

“Filled. With books and reading. I went to the seminar you recommended and worked the room as you suggested. I was amazed at the number of women in the audience. When I traveled to these shows with Harold, most of the women were wives, not executives. Now they’re the speakers.”

“Times are different, now. And much better.” Henry replied softly. “Soon enough, you’ll be among them.”

“Yes. Me, with my degree in home economics.”

“Don’t kid yourself. Who you were is not who you are. And who you are is not who you are becoming.”

“Sounds Zen-like.”

“In a way. Before we begin, I have a personal question, if I may.”

“Of course.”

“I have an open schedule now, for a month. Would you consider…. Pause
His hesitancy was so out of character, she pressed her ear harder to the phone.

“There’s a concert this weekend, with Tony Bennett. I would like to take you, if you would like to go?”

Alison’s face lit up. She paused for a moment.

“Do you mean, like a date?”

“Yes. A date. Dinner and a show.’

“ I thought you didn’t do that with clients.”

“I thought that, too. Until you.
Silence.

“I will understand if you cannot.”

“Henry, I would love to. I am thrilled you would ask, I’m just stunned, that’s all.”

“Then it’s a date?”

“Yes, a date.”

“Great! Let’s continue with the session. What did you read this week?”