Not the usual lunch conversation

One more reason to love Iowa City: as a parishioner (M.) and I were finishing good conversation and lunch at a coffee shop, another parishioner (J.) waved and approached our table. M said to J, "What are you up to today?"

The reply? "I just finished reading Augustine's Confessions for the fourth time." Yes, J does teach in the Department of Religion, but still, his reply to M's breezy question utterly delighted me. And this brief exchange reminded me that in the midst of an intense week with people, someone usually comes along to say the unexpected thing, or lighten the tone of the day. I love Iowa City.