Vying for the Archbishop's Chair

If you have 1000+ persons in any venue and you are lucky enough to bump into the head man it's usually at points of necessity...in the elevator or as he's coming out of the restroom.

For me it was when he tried to steal my chair. Actually The Most Rev'd Rowan Douglas Williams was roaming around the dining room with his cheesecake set on meeting people and since I was up getting my own desert he sat down or rather sat down as I did too.

We looked like we had just scrambled to the final chord of musical chairs. At first I thought he was an Archbishop look-alike. What are the chances you will share laps with the head of the Anglican Communion? It certainly ranks as the most awkward introduction I've ever had. Maybe for the Archbishop too but he gets around more than I do. He quickly motioned me into an adjoining chair and scooped into his cake, smiling.

He asked how I thought it was going and I said with considerable theological insight, "Good." I worried about being drawn beyond my depth so, in addition to complimenting his retreat homilies, I launched into my favorite question for all luminaries,

"How do you keep up your energy? Do you exercise?"

"No," he said, "but I always bring a book along which has nothing to do with all this." He waved his hand around the room, not dismissively, but in a gesture that seemed to gently touch all the bobbing heads in the room.

I tried to think what a scholar with a twinkle in his eye would sneak away and read.

"A P.D. James novel, then?"

He half nodded--I got the impression he had long ago plowed through everything that famed British mystery writer had written. At this point a lady pressed him with a gift she had obviously wrapped herself...so much for hearing the scoop on what was waiting on his night table.

I share this not as more ga-ga about the man but to say he and I have a liking for cheesecake and, apparently, the same furniture...at least his generosity made that so. +gep