A Serendipitous Saturday

On a typical Saturday morning I am awake and moving no later than eight o’clock.  This past Saturday I slept later than I normally do.  On Friday night I had attended a baseball game. It was a Subway Series game between the two New York baseball teams the Mets and the Yankees.  Due to heavy rain the game’s start had been delayed by an hour. At the end of the night I was very happy with the outcome, my team won.  However,by the time I arrived home it was twelve thirty in the morning.  It had been a long week at work and after the delayed game I was extremely tired.

  The next morning I awoke at nine fifteen this is later than I normally do.  I took my time getting moving. I savored my much needed cup of coffee, read the newspaper, took care of my on-line banking and caught up with my Facebook friends.  I knew my plans for the day consisted of chores, but I yearned to go out for a walk. I needed to let my mind, body and spirit synchronize and exercise.  The great outdoors has a way of doing this.  I changed my clothes, laced up my sneaker and headed out.  It was a beautifully clear early summer morning.  The sky was deep blue and the air reflected my mood, light, airy and carefree. 

  When I walk I carry my phone along with me.  It is not so I can make calls or answer text message, but to take pictures.  I happen to be the proud owner of a magical Blackberry.  It has a knack for capturing not only an image, but a thought or a feeling that is associated with the picture. For the past year or so heart shaped images have been following me.  They appear in the form of rocks, clouds, oil stains, snow, paint spills, puddles, and as reflections in the water.  They have even appeared in the center of my morning bagel.

  On Saturday morning I came across a perfectly heart shaped oil stain.  For the past week I have had a new image shadowing me.  It is the letter “M”.  I believe it holds a message for a friend of mine.  On Friday morning there were two “M”’s that appeared in the sky and on Saturday morning one more appeared on the road as a reflection through the tree leaves.  When I arrived home I sent these images to my friend.  She responded instantly in the same awe and amazement that I did. I recited to myself, “No accidents, all as it should be.”

  As I was getting ready for my day I realized that since my bank had been sold to another institution I needed to make a credit card payment in person.  The bank is in the opposite direction that I was planning on going, but I needed to take care of this.  I showered, changed my clothes, compiled my grocery list and headed out.  My time was tight.  The bank closed at one o’clock.  It was twelve thirty-five and I had at least a fifteen minute drive.

  As walked to the driveway and  reached for the handle to my car door I stopped.  The sun was cresting over the tree in my back yard and the clouds that were nestled next to the leaves looked like angels wings.  I released the car handle and walked into the back yard.  The extra minute was not only worth it, but meant to be, there was an angel watching over me.

 My route to the bank includes traveling over a picturesque two lane country road.  I was listening to a CD called “The Prayer Cycle” by Elias.  It is not only beautiful, but magically southing an equally alluring. The premise of the CD is that music is Universal.  It does not matter what language it is sung in.  We are all connected and moved by the tones and the inherent feeling.

   As I gazed ahead the beauty that I was admiring sucked the air from my lungs. I was not only breathless, but speechless.  The clouds that filled the sky looked so serene and absolutely perfect.  How was it possible that on this day, Van Gogh painted the sky?  I needed to pull over on a side street and capture the moment.

  I made it to the bank with five minutes to spare!  With my transaction complete I was drawn to turn right out of the parking lot, not the way I should go, left.  If I turned left I would be traveling a more direct route to my shopping destination, but that was not part of the plan.  I turned right.  As I was driving I had a thought, “An ice cream cone would hit the spot.”  And of course there was an ice cream shop along this route. So I made my mind up to stop at Weirs.  It has is a local spot that has quenched many souls along with its sweetness.

  I pulled into the parking lot, parked the car and made my way to the counter to order.  You know anything in moderation is good.  I wanted a small twist soft serve ice cream cone (it is a mix of chocolate and vanilla, a half and half of sorts.) At this time of the day the ice cream stand is not that busy.  There were just a few people before me. The moment that I stood in the line the woman in front of me yelled, “Kathy!”  She removed her sunglasses and hugged me. In an instant I recognized her. She possesses the most welcoming brown eyes you will ever see, a warm a smile that engages your heart and a hug that fills your soul. Within our lineage, this woman and I share a dear mutual friend. The type of friend that is always there for you no matter what, and on a typical day, has the ability to make you laugh until you cry.

  My friend having more will power than I ordered a small frozen yogurt, I went for my small twist ice cream cone. With our frozen treasures in hand we made our way to a picnic bench.  And then the flood gates opened. The gates did not release tears, but rather words. Honest conversation. These are the types of words that have the ability to bind heart to heart, connect wisdom to wisdom and link shared experience to shared experience.

  We exchanged information regarding the progress of our families. We spoke of groups we belong to.  She shared her journey in life with a new partner.  I shared my life altering trip to Sedona Arizona last year.  We spoke of shared books read.  Joan Anderson’s works were significant for both of us.  “A Year by the Sea”, “A Walk on the Beach” and “The Second Journey” whispered to both of us.  She had attended one of Joan’s retreats at The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York and I was mesmerized as she recited the perfectly imparted wisdom of Joan Anderson. 

  We spoke of the book “Broken Open” written by Elizabeth Lesser and the significance that it had upon our lives.  Elizabeth’s words had touched us both. Through her experience Elizabeth had impacted our lives and our decisions.  With all of this discussion of words and their power, I shared that I had started this blog, and I explained how it was inspired by sharing Joan Anderson’s book “A Year by the Sea”.  Not only was Joan’s book instrumental in starting this blog, but it fueled several other friendships.

  As the conversation continued she shared that her gentleman friend was writing a book and that he had joined a local writing group.  The group was the very one that I had inquired about a year prior.   Somehow when you speak words out loud their intentions are committed to action.  I explained how I have plans to attend a writing workshop that is being conducted by an author who lives in Montana.  This is something that I need to do for me, much like my trip to Sedona. These experiences fill in the hollow pieces that reside within my soul.  And when these pieces have been filled and connected I have the ability to move forward freely and unencumbered. 

   Sitting on that bench I almost felt as she and I were the characters in Dan Fogelbergs song “Old Lang Syne.”  As the line goes “Our tongues were tired and we were running out of things to say”. But in our case we weren’t running out of things to say, we were merely running out of time.  Our frozen treats were long gone. However each of realized that the confectionary pleasure was not the purpose of the meeting, it was merely the conduit.  We shared our thoughts, fears, ideas and dreams. We shared them honestly and without reservation.   The funny thing is, as much as this conversation was one that you would share over coffee with a girlfriend, but that was not our relationship.  The Universe needed to make this meeting happen……and I am so very glad that it did.  I walked away refreshed, with a full heart and a smile that lite my soul both inward and outward.

  As I drove away from the ice cream stand I was satisfied and full not only physically but also emotionally.   I went to Wal-Mart, completed my shopping and exited the store unscathed. Upon my arrival home I unpacked the groceries and moved on.

 That evening while sitting on my deck I continued to take photos of the clouds.  The “M’s continued to appear before me. The message for my long distant friend that I spoke of this morning was apparent. As I stared at the clouds above and snapped picture after picture with my magical Blackberry I realized something.  Each step of my day was orchestrated.  Each moment was as it was to be.  Every person I spoke with I was intended to converse with. The messages I recieved and shared were as they were intented to be.   It was all perfect. ...down to the very last “M”.