On May 8, 1984, Pia Lindstrom came to Syracuse, NY, my hometown, as the featured speaker at an annual luncheon given by the Salvation Army at Drumlins Country Club.

When I read about her being the speaker at this event, you can well imagine how I dropped everything so I could attend. My friend, a retired university prof, and I went together to Drumlins Country Club. While my friend went to find seats at one of the 100 tables that were set up for the luncheon, I went to the ladies room. While in the ladies room, I went into the ''john". Just then I heard two women enter. You know how one can peek out the side of the door and see who came in? I noticed a Salvation Army woman. The other woman went into the "john" next to mine.

Just as I was exiting the "john", my friend walked into the ladies room. She began talking to the Salvation Army woman who, I surmised, was waiting for the woman in the "john". As I walked over to the sink to wash my hands, the other woman came out and also walked over to wash her hands. Actually, I was unaware of what she looked like. Just then my friend touched me on the shoulder and with a big smile and a wink of the eye, nodded to me. I turned to my right and looked at the attractive, blond woman next to me washing her hands. I was stunned! It was Pia Lindstrom! I couldn't believe it! Like a fool, I yelled, "PIA!". Oh, I know it was bold of me but when a person has adored her mother, Ingrid Bergman, for so long (ever since I was 13 years old) you just can't help it. It's something that cannot be explained.

Pia was absolutely wonderful! I told her how sorry I was for the outburst, but she didn't seem to mind at all. In fact she smiled and we talked for a few minutes. I asked if, after the luncheon, I could have a picture taken with her since my friend had her camera. Again, another bold move, but what can I say? She said she would be delighted. Fortunately, our table was not too far from the speaker's lectern. I enjoyed Pia's speech very much and was especially amused when she told the audience how she became a member of the Salvation Army board. She said, "No one had ever asked me.......I received a notice that I had been elected". She added, "I didn't even know I was running.".

She further noted how she admired the persistence of the Salvation Army: "When a chapel service is scheduled, the service goes on even if only a few, or one, or no one is present". My friend, a PhD in Speech Communications, said Pia's speech was outstanding in every way. Of course, I thought so too. After the luncheon, I had a picture taken with Pia. I was in my glory. The TV crew were standing there ready to interview Pia and take her picture. I said to her, "Pia I think they're waiting for you." She replied, "They can wait". Imagine, she treated me better than the TV crew, giving me priority.

She was so wonderful to me that I cannot put into words the way I felt. Here was the daughter of my idol, Ingrid Bergman, mind you! And I met her in the ladies room, of all places! At this time Pia was working at WNBC-TV in New York City as a reporter and drama critic. Later in the year, I mailed her a crossword puzzle which listed her three-letter name as an answer. In my note to her I said, "One knows you have really arrived when the crossword-puzzle writers include you." A few weeks later I received an 8x10 photograph of Pia enscribed: "To Diane, Best Wishes, Pia Lindstrom". I still have this lovely photograph of Pia and cherish it to this very day. I thought you Bergmanites would like to know how I met Pia Lindstrom and what a lovely, wonderful person she truly is. She spoke lovingly of her mother. -And that is what I liked the most about her.