Last time we met, I was at Fuel Bar + Taco in Jackson, sleuthing out what anonymous locals like to eat while trying to delve a little deeper than the dish. After indulging in the Fuel hot dog, my new friend sent me to ...

Sedona Bistro located at 1812 Carondalet St. in Cape Girardeau to experience her favorite dish — the Reuben.

The Reuben. Interesting. Not an item that typically piques the interest of my palate, but, I thought, if I was committed to widening my circle of trust, what better way than to begin than with something as benign as a sandwich?

The only problem? I had to complete my mission the very next day because I was to begin a foodie sabbatical of sorts shortly thereafter and was intent on not making excuses or taking any shortcuts. We can justify anything if we try hard enough, but it often delays positive progress.

I drove back to my office, and the perfect person for the job literally appeared before me. Literally, as in, she was standing a few feet in front of my car as I parked. Literally. I got her attention, filled her in on the endeavor, and she immediately and enthusiastically responded with an "all in".

Not something that would normally pique my palette's interest, Sedona's Reuben is worth keeping on the short list for those inevitable indecisive days.Submitted by Mary Ann Castillo

We made plans to meet the following day, said our goodbyes, then quickly sought escape from the cold to the warmth indoors.

We were both running a bit behind schedule the next afternoon, par for the course, but the gloomy frigid temperature was not enough to dampen our spirits in the bright, cozy booth behind the doors of Sedona.

I ordered my Reuben; she ordered one of the weekly specials.

As we waited for our order, we caught up a bit before transitioning into deeper topics, such as the power of Botox and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. She shared her thoughts on connection and how something as simple as sharing a smile with a stranger can often be the most important thing we do in life. She said one of the biggest misconceptions people have about her is that she is argumentative and aggressive, while in her personal life she is actually quite the goofball.

Same, girl, same.

My brunchmate enjoyed one of the specials of the day, the oriental shrimp wrap. The veggie slaw, shredded cheese, grilled shrimp seasoned with sesame ginger wrap received two thumbs up.

I took a bite of my Reuben. Delicious flavors filled my mouth as my mind consumed her words, and I'm not sure which was most responsible for the dopamine rush I experienced.

With so much external and internal stimulation, I had a brief moment of doubt. Maybe I should have prepared more for this moment. How do the pros do it? Maybe I should ask more questions? Better questions? Maybe I should just keep eating. I mean, take one bite of the Reuben and one thing will become abundantly clear, the sandwich speaks for itself.

Then, one question changed everything.

What breaks your heart?

Her eyes immediately filled up with tears she was unable to keep from rolling down the beauty of her vulnerable face. Then, a smile in the midst of tears as she answered simply: my daughter. Words filled with unquestionable love, doubt and fear flowed. Switching from the amazement of watching your child grow to the ache of knowing you are close to the goal of releasing them to follow their own path, whatever that may look like, is the best and the worst of times. The disconnect between completely trusting in your child's resilience, strength, character and abilities, while simultaneously trying to manage the self-doubt that comes with trying to convince yourself the best you had to give adequately prepared them is enough to leave anyone feeling a moment of madness.

Conversation sprinkled with bites of food; my own eyes watered a bit as my heart filled with compassion that reflected from my face in a smile. Been there, done that ... and I made it "here". Should I tell her we survive? Nah, that's what life is. I didn't realize how far I'd come until I saw bits of myself reflected in her story.

Maybe, the opportunity and ability to feel things so deeply are the real gifts, even if the moments don't last forever. Is this the wisdom they say comes with age? I'll try to get that answer for you next time, when I visit ...

You didn't think I was going to tell you, did you? All things in good time.

Until next time, go to Sedona Bistro, try the Reuben, and let us know what you think.