Once upon a time, in the neon-lit arcades of New Jersey's boardwalks, I made a discovery: Pac-Man. Yes, in the heady days of the early '80s, while sauntering between Point Pleasant and Asbury Park, I stumbled upon a revelation. Now, bear with me, because I'm about to confess a peculiar talent for "discovering" things that, well, were already there.
My relationship with arcade games was fraught, to say the least. Skee-Ball might as well have been rocket science, and Pinball? Let's just say the pinball wizards of yore would have had a field day with my ineptitude. It seemed like I was destined to remain on the fringes of arcade mastery—until Pac-Man entered my life.
Pac-Man was brilliant in its simplicity: a yellow circle with a voracious appetite. And as someone who appreciates the finer points of eating, Pac-Man spoke to me on a spiritual level. I poured my hard-earned cash—salvaged from the depths of my PathMark (and later, Jamesway) paycheck—into mastering this game. Against all odds, I got pretty good.
Fast forward a few decades, and my knack for "discovering" things that were hardly obscure struck again. This time, it wasn't a pixelated, yellow eater but a centenarian with a zest for life and a sharp wit: Mildred Kirschenbaum. You might think stumbling upon Mildred was akin to finding a hidden gem, but let's face it—she's been shining brightly for a century.
Last week, Mike and I attended Mildred Kirschenbaum's book signing in Brooklyn, New York. Yes, Mildred, at age 100, wrote a book! Here is a woman who, like Pac-Man, has been navigating mazes (of life) with grace and humor, gobbling up every experience with unbridled joy. The irony wasn't lost on me: once again, I had "discovered" something wonderful that was already a beacon for others. Meeting Mildred (and her daughter Gayle) was a reminder of the joy in finding things that resonate with us, regardless of when we come to the party.
So, here's to the discoveries—both in neon-lit arcades and in the wisdom of those who've lived a century. May we all be so lucky to find our Pac-Mans and Mildreds, reminding us that sometimes, the best discoveries are those that have been waiting for us to notice them all along.