I traveled many miles today to visit a friend. We did the womanthing--chatted, broke some bread together, chatted, teased a store clerk, chatted some more. What is it with the word chat? It's very common; we use it all the time. But it doesn't really capture the essence. It conveys that talk is cheap, trivial. But it's not. All this chatting is really about connecting. Still, I need to start again with a word that conveys a closer meaning. My friend and I spoke, broke some bread together, chatted, teased a store clerk, and spoke some more. Chatting is a head thing, speaking is a soul thing. And connecting is the very best thing you can do with a wise new friend.