I love living on the coast, but I'll admit it can be lonely sometimes. People come and go so fast here that it's hard to feel rooted. I've been here for years and still sometimes feel like I'm on the outside looking in.

We were both waiting for our food at that little seafood spot in Florence, and you made a joke about the weather changing every five minutes. I laughed, but I wish I'd said more. If you're out there, I was the one in the blue jacket pretending not to notice you.

To the person reading on the bench near the harbor in Charleston yesterday morning. I noticed you had the same book I've been meaning to start. You looked so peaceful with the fog rolling in behind you. It felt like one of those moments that stays with you.

You were the guy with the green Subaru and the dog covered in sand outside the grocery store in Astoria. Your dog tried to sit in my lap like we were old friends, and you laughed so hard you almost dropped your coffee. I should've asked your name.

To the woman at Cannon Beach who was collecting shells near Haystack Rock just before sunset, I meant to say your yellow beanie looked amazing against the sky. We passed each other twice and I kept thinking of something clever to say. Instead, I just smiled like an idiot. Maybe next time.

You were the man in the navy raincoat at the Newport aquarium last weekend, trying to keep your little girl from pressing every button in sight. She laughed every time she got you to smile, and honestly, it was the sweetest thing I saw all day. If you remember the woman by the sea lion tank, that was me.

I met you yesterday at Sleeper Coffee in Astoria. We spent a few hours laughing and talking, and then your husband showed up and you had to leave. I was so bummed we never exchanged names the whole time we were talking. I remember you mentioned you’re from the East Coast too. I’d really love to be friends and continue our conversation. If you see this, please say hi!

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