I played golf at a local course on a bright, sunny day. It was a member-guest event at Arronimink Golf Course. The game format was a foursome, where the two best balls counted for the match.

I didn’t play very well; although I made a few pars, I mostly recorded a lot of triple bogeys. Surprisingly, we ended up finishing in first place.

After the game, I showered, went to dinner, and joined the foursome group. We talked about how we played and how the highest drive was Christian Hackenberg. I told them that I was a huge Penn Stater and he was a great quarterback a few years back.

I wanted to talk to him, but with aphasia, I get nervous about not being able to speak well. I practiced what I wanted to say and finally introduced myself to him. To my relief, he was friendly and approachable, and we chatted for a while about football, golf, and life in general. I told him about the Mauti’s and that one of my best friends was the retired Women’s Field Hockey Coach. Chris immediately said, “Char,” and I laughed. Everyone knows Char. When I struggled with some words, I told him that I had a stroke and that I have aphasia and sometimes I have issues with words. He immediately said you are fine.

It was an incredible experience to meet someone I admired, and I was grateful for the opportunity to have a genuine conversation with him. It shows that you never know who you might meet on the golf course; sometimes, a chance encounter can become a memorable experience.