My great aunt loves astrology. When I was a baby she read my star chart and is always ready to explain how being a Gemini affects every aspect of my life.

In one of our conversations, she told me that, as a Gemini, I have an openness that makes people comfortable and willing to share personal information with me. Over the years, this quality has provided endless entertainment, on airplanes in particular – like the time a women told me why she became a born-again virgin before take-off.

Luckily for me, I love listening to random strangers.

On Wednesday morning I got an earful when I was visiting a client location and was pulled aside by one of the sales guys.

I had never met him before, but he said he had questions for me about my company. As it turns out, he didn’t really have any questions. Instead, over the course of 5 minutes, I learned the following:

He might be interested in working at my company even though he is not familiar with what we do and has no experience in our industry

He is an actor

He took a year off work recently to star in his friend’s independent feature film

He writes screenplays

He used to coach high school basketball and one of his kids – he stipulated that he wasn’t referring to a child, but one of his students. He just refers to his students as kids. He doesn’t have any kids – got in an accident resulting in the amputation of both legs below his knees. He now has prosthetic legs and is doing great.

He isn’t sure why he pulled me aside just then. He just thought I had “a nice way about me” and wanted to chat. (must be my overpowering Gemini quality)

He is a writer and when he finds that what he writes in his journal ends up coming true years later. Including major world events.

To that last comment I finally spoke up (that’s right, I hadn’t said anything yet) and said, “You should write something really hopeful about the oil spill in the Gulf.”

He replied with, “Funny you should say that because just last night I wrote a poem about the Gulf. Here…I think I remember it…”

He then recited the poem.

I stood there awkwardly.

He handed me his card and asked for mine.

I gave him my work email address.