September 27th, 2018

Everyone who doesn't love a bit of serendipity in their lives now and again, raise your hands.
Okay, now all those of you who raised your hands, lower them again, because I don't believe you for one second, you liars.  Everyone is at least bemused by serendipity.  Just saying the word brings a smile to my face.

I just adore it.  And I find that it happens in my life a lot.

Just the other night, I was having one of those nights where I just couldn't sleep no matter how tired I was. So rather than toss and turn and risk waking Tim who actually was able to sleep, I finally gave up, got up and wandered out through the darkness to the family room.  I turned on the TV and found an old movie that I haven't in about twenty years and settled in to watch.  It was a light romantic comedy so I didn't have to think too hard while watching. I just relaxed and enjoyed it.   It was only when the movie was over that I realized how funny it was that I watched the film, "While You Were Sleeping"  because I wasn't sleeping.  HAHAHAHAHAHA!  That sort of thing just cracks me up.

It happened again yesterday.  My morning blog topic yesterday was dreams, as you may or may not recall.  I wrote the blog just before I left for my gig at the museum.  I mean seriously, I hit the "post" button, grabbed my purse and zoomed out the door.  I was still mentally going over what I had written and was wishing I had taken more time with the topic, Dreams, Dreaming, Dreamers......   Then almost the minute  I walked through the door to start my shift, my boss came in and asked me if I would please read and review a new book they were considering for the gift shop.  That's my kind of job task :)  The title of the book had the word, "Dreamers" in it.  Awesome!   I just love when that happens.

I don't believe that there is anything mysterious or supernatural or ghostly about it.  It's just a funny funky happenstance and occurs to everyone.  The universe has a lovely sense of humour sometimes.

Not long ago,  on a weekend day Tim suggested that we eat out and try some new restaurant that he had heard or read about. Sure!  On the way there I said, "You know, I am having the strongest strawberry cravings.  I think I'll go by the farm market next week and see if they have any fresh ones in".  We no more than got seated in our booth and were handed our menus than I saw that their "special' dessert that evenings was strawberry shortcake.   Sweet!

See, it happens to me all of the time.  While walking to Pilates class earlier this week I thought to myself, I need to ask the instructor after class if there are any special exercises for a sore neck.  I had slept funny and woke with what my family refers to as a crick in my neck.  One of the first things the instructor told us that day was that we would be working back and neck muscles first thing.  Nice!

Now I'm not saying that it happens every moment of every day, but often enough that I'm not  surprised when it does.  I'll be thinking about a friend and the phone rings and it's that friend calling :)  Love when that happens.   I'm sure it happens to you too. 

I found out today that there is a movie called Serendipity which I had no idea existed.  I think John Cusak is in it. I will have to find this film because I am positive it's one I will enjoy. Just because of the name.  Perhaps not a brilliant flick. Nothing earth shattering or award winning. But it doens't have to be.  Most of the movies that I rank really high on my favourites list are not award winners.  They are just movies that I like.  Same goes for books.  I don't buy books because they are on a  bestsellers list.  I get books that I like.

Sometimes when we are traveling and we are driving aimlessly around a town or city we've never been in before and we really have no idea where we are going , we make our turn selections through serendipty. And sometimes that is how we have stumbled across some of our greatest finds!  We have stopped at Sam's Number 3 in Denver for breakast and driven down Humphreys Boulevard in Memphis TN because, well we just have to!

 I happen to know that there is a Thatcher AZ, a Corbin KY and a Hurley NY all of which are on our gotta visit list. Just because there are some things you just gotta do. AND what's more, I know that we will have a great time when we do.

One of my favourite serendipity stories ever was actually not mine but youngest son's story.  His name is Hurley (if you've forgotten).  Years ago now, when he first moved to New York City and was looking for work, it was a struggle. There were so many people applying for every single job that he was getting worried and of course, we  worried with him.  Time went on and things got more concerning and then one day he walked into a sports shop. You know the sort, clothing, shoes, gear for specific sports. In this case, Skating,  Roller Blading, Skate Boarding etc. He filled out the application and turned it in.  The manager looked at his name and said, 'Is this really your name?"  Hurley said, "Yes".  The manager looked at him again and said, "No way".  "Hurley showed him his drivers license as proof.  The manager smiled and said, "I guess I have to hire you!"  And suddenly Child 3 had a job again.   In case you didn't know, the Hurley brand is huge in skate sports and therefore that store sold a ton of Hurley brand product.  Serendipty!

It's all around us people.  Embrace Serendipity in your life and let its magic bring a smile to your face.  It's there, knocking at the door, open it up and welcome it in.  I promise you will, at the very least, be bemused.  And that is never a bad thing.