Hello, stranger!

So, I picked up the phone the other day to talk to a stranger. Which is really no big deal - essentially that's what I do for a living these days. But this was a personal call to a stranger. The man wrote a play I greatly admired called "Hospitality Suite,'' and one of the regular responders to my blog actually got this guy's phone number for me.
I called the number and Roger Rueff, the author, actually answered the phone. He told me he doesn't usually give copies of his work to individuals. I said I understood. The conversation did not end there. We spoke for about an hour, about our kids, our lives, what we do to pay the bills (he teaches business writing seminars).
When I told him I used to be a Baptist pastor, the conversation became good and lively.
I tend to surprise people because I don't think I fit their model of a Baptist minister (even over the phone.)
We bemoaned the fact that the bullies seem to have taken over evangelicalism in America, and we discussed the nature, philosophy and theology of funeral services.
It's great to talk to someone who is witty and erudite (much like yourselves, actually)
He said some really fine things describing young theater critics as those who "aspire to be jaded.''
He quoted Woody Allen: "If Jesus came back today and saw what was being done in his name, he wouldn't stop throwing up.''
The playwright also said that when people perform his play, he makes it clear that they cannot change or clean up the language. This puts him one stop above journalists who are always having their words changed and cleaned up by editors.
As the conversation went on, I thought the only thing missing was a long mahogony bar and a few cold ones.
Strangers connecting and enjoying a convwersation. Whoda thunk it?
Maybe you and I ought to get together for a drink and a conversation - or does that defeat the purpose of a blog?
We could all wear nametags, except that 90 percent of you would be called Anonymous.