A friend of mine I shared a house with years ago would say this is all "just" a
normal everyday coincidence but I say there’s a visual below and you be the
judge.
Saturday morning I decide to drive to the car wash (from Lago Vista to Car Wash below). As I sit there, it’s taking much longer than usual. Other customers who’ve arrived after me are already leaving but I’ve got nowhere else to be and there’s an almost a peaceful, rhythmic dance of the cars going through the automated portion, then driven to the lot where another group of dancers begin the wipe down and the window/tire shining and then the rag in
the air indicating the finale. OK, I said I was there for awhile, my mind wanders ;-)
After about an hour a woman walks into the back waiting room where I’m sitting. She looks likes very much like my aunt Connie. As she walks towards me, the dogs bark at her but she keeps walking and they keep barking. She doesn’t mind at all and walks right up to them and starts petting them. She sits down and asks me what breed they are and so the conversation goes. One of their collar’s tags must have been turned up and when she read it, she asked me if I lived in Lago Vista. I said yes, for about 3 years and I really love it there. She then tells me she lives in Lago Vista also for about 15 years. The
population of Lago (that’s what us locals call it) is around 6500 people so a
fairly small community and the car wash is about 20 miles from there so it’s an unusual coincidence. She tells me about her cats and how she wishes she
could take them with her everywhere. And how when she was sick last year with breast cancer, they just laid with her the whole time only getting up to use the litter box and eat and then right back by her side. She tells me her brother lives with her now after moving there to take care of her while she was sick, she just turned 60 and she’s headed into the office. I express my sympathy that she has to work on a Saturday to which she responds she works at an Insurance company and unfortunately, accidents don’t stop on Saturdays. She has a great attitude and oozes warmth and sincerity. She asks me where I work and I say U-R-S. She says “oh, I think I’ve heard of them”. I don’t respond immediately but what goes through my head, is I’d be surprised if you have because seldom, if ever, when I tell someone where I work and they aren’t in the same field have they heard of us. I think she’s about to ask me what everyone always does “what does the U-R-S stand for” when instead, she says “your office is over on Amberglen, right?”. I’m visibly surprised and then she adds for further clarification “our State Farm office is one building over” (see visual for office location relative to car wash). Just then the rag goes up for her car, she shakes my hand and tells me how much she enjoyed talking with me and I her and she was off.
Being the big thinker I am, I begin to wonder what it’s all about. You see, I’m not one to think it’s “just” a coincidence. My dad comes to my mind. He passed away almost 19 years ago. Nineteen years, wow! I’ve been missing him more than usual lately but other than she looks like my dad’s sister there’s nothing to connect the dots. I can’t seem to shake this feeling. My car is finally
ready. I get in and begin to drive off. The song on the radio is “Live until I die”, which is a song we played for my dad, it's something he used to say all the time "Live until I die". The song always reminds me of him. In that moment, I smile, tears come to my eyes as I realize I don’t just miss him, I feel him! I know he’s with us and watches over us and I feel truly blessed.
So … “just” coincidence? I choose to say no. I like to think of it is a trail marker. A reminder that I have a path, I’m still on my path and to be open.
Open to those around me, open to the warmth, open to the possibility!
Sylvia
normal everyday coincidence but I say there’s a visual below and you be the
judge.
Saturday morning I decide to drive to the car wash (from Lago Vista to Car Wash below). As I sit there, it’s taking much longer than usual. Other customers who’ve arrived after me are already leaving but I’ve got nowhere else to be and there’s an almost a peaceful, rhythmic dance of the cars going through the automated portion, then driven to the lot where another group of dancers begin the wipe down and the window/tire shining and then the rag in
the air indicating the finale. OK, I said I was there for awhile, my mind wanders ;-)
After about an hour a woman walks into the back waiting room where I’m sitting. She looks likes very much like my aunt Connie. As she walks towards me, the dogs bark at her but she keeps walking and they keep barking. She doesn’t mind at all and walks right up to them and starts petting them. She sits down and asks me what breed they are and so the conversation goes. One of their collar’s tags must have been turned up and when she read it, she asked me if I lived in Lago Vista. I said yes, for about 3 years and I really love it there. She then tells me she lives in Lago Vista also for about 15 years. The
population of Lago (that’s what us locals call it) is around 6500 people so a
fairly small community and the car wash is about 20 miles from there so it’s an unusual coincidence. She tells me about her cats and how she wishes she
could take them with her everywhere. And how when she was sick last year with breast cancer, they just laid with her the whole time only getting up to use the litter box and eat and then right back by her side. She tells me her brother lives with her now after moving there to take care of her while she was sick, she just turned 60 and she’s headed into the office. I express my sympathy that she has to work on a Saturday to which she responds she works at an Insurance company and unfortunately, accidents don’t stop on Saturdays. She has a great attitude and oozes warmth and sincerity. She asks me where I work and I say U-R-S. She says “oh, I think I’ve heard of them”. I don’t respond immediately but what goes through my head, is I’d be surprised if you have because seldom, if ever, when I tell someone where I work and they aren’t in the same field have they heard of us. I think she’s about to ask me what everyone always does “what does the U-R-S stand for” when instead, she says “your office is over on Amberglen, right?”. I’m visibly surprised and then she adds for further clarification “our State Farm office is one building over” (see visual for office location relative to car wash). Just then the rag goes up for her car, she shakes my hand and tells me how much she enjoyed talking with me and I her and she was off.
Being the big thinker I am, I begin to wonder what it’s all about. You see, I’m not one to think it’s “just” a coincidence. My dad comes to my mind. He passed away almost 19 years ago. Nineteen years, wow! I’ve been missing him more than usual lately but other than she looks like my dad’s sister there’s nothing to connect the dots. I can’t seem to shake this feeling. My car is finally
ready. I get in and begin to drive off. The song on the radio is “Live until I die”, which is a song we played for my dad, it's something he used to say all the time "Live until I die". The song always reminds me of him. In that moment, I smile, tears come to my eyes as I realize I don’t just miss him, I feel him! I know he’s with us and watches over us and I feel truly blessed.
So … “just” coincidence? I choose to say no. I like to think of it is a trail marker. A reminder that I have a path, I’m still on my path and to be open.
Open to those around me, open to the warmth, open to the possibility!
Sylvia