I like surprises. Not the kind when people jump out at me from behind a hedge, but the kind like when a stranger starts a conversation, and I have no idea where we are headed. A couple of years ago in NYC, a gentleman with a garment bag sat next to me on a bench outside of a small grocery store, one of those cute, neighborhood places that sells fruit and delicious prepared food. He said hello and began to tell me that he was a regular at this market. His ritual was to order a medium-sized cup of soft serve ice cream. Today he was coming from the tailor where he had just picked up a new suit. He was worried about fitting into it. There was going to be an event coming up, he would be attending with his girlfriend. He wanted to look good. I asked if it would be possible to order a small serving. Nope, he was an all or nothing kind of guy. He said goodbye and left without getting an ice cream. 

The other day while walking at the Huntington, I spied the rose specialist and his apprentice at the edge of the rose garden. I said hello and remarked that I was surprised to see so many of the rose bushes in bloom. We agreed. Then on a whim, I asked them which rose was their favorite. The apprentice was quick to reply, “ Today my favorite is Huntington’s 100th.” He pointed in the direction of several plants bursting with flowers, blooms representing all stages from bud to decline.

Then he amended his reply, “ If you come back in a couple of hours, I will probably have a new favorite.”

In less than 5 minutes, I was introduced to a radical new thought: I could have a favorite every two hours.  I could have multiple favorites a day. I could change my mind about my favorite. 

My surprise conversation with the rose experts started the moment I began my walk around the gardens. That morning at The Huntington, instead of going to the desert garden as I usually do, I headed straight towards the Chinese and Japanese gardens. At each twist and turn, I encountered new vistas and details. The entire visit that day, to a place I have been to dozens of times, offered something new. 

Surprises are waiting to greet us everyday.