An older couple - my age, so perhaps I should revise my definition, thinking, start referring to them as "Middle aged" or "Young", in the restaurant, she - my age, her partner a little older.
She is proofreading his novel. Is he her husband? Lover? Is she actually an editor? I have a few questions, but I'm busy enough that I have to let it pass.
And - you know, I've been here before, asked about other writer's works and forced to suffer the discomfort of their prose or ideals. But - as always, curiosity gets the better of me...
She, more than a little enthusiastic at the job ahead of her, has been waiting for just such a moment.
"It's about his spiritual journey..."
Now here I want to guffaw, this, well, isn't everyone writing about that? I mean, 20 odd years ago in Nepal I recall running into an American tourist with her hand written journal with just such the exact same title - well, "My Spiritual Journey". But, you know, I can't guffaw, it would be appalling manners, and I've opened it up and so now I get to listen...
I'm wondering who we know in common, if I should be enquiring if they know so and so or if there's any connection to some of the other more cult-like organizations around...
As my own interests have been somewhat tangent lately - specifically my podcast and audiobook listening preferences, I enquire if it's in the line of ... or ... and he's dismissive, no, no, this is a more "Advanced" spiritual practice book, not to sound snobby, but it's the companion to a earlier, more "Intermediate" book he'd written, and he's a bit abstracted, looking off, I can just take his word that he's more spiritually evolved than the average Koot. and wants to share his wisdom, and I'm enquiring with his partner if she's professionally an editor or proofreader, but, no, she's merely helping him to fact-check all the waypoints on his journey...
So, more of the colorful locals, and I'm thinking that if I'm going to improve my income I'll have to conquer my distaste for hypocrisy and set up my own brand of Imposture...