"Only YOU Mom!!!"

When my daughter graduated from college, I thought I arrived early enough to get a pretty decent seat but it was so crowded there was standing room only and that was 3 deep with absolutely NO chance of seeing anything.

I wandered around the grounds trying to find a "peek hole" somewhere, but to no avail. Then as fate would have it, I ran into one of the members I knew from the local YMCA where I worked. I had not seen him in years and as we started talking he told me that he had taken a job with the college. My eyes lit up and I asked if there was anything he could do for me to find me a seat.

I never expected that he would find me the best seat in the house. He took me up to the Press Box and I had a front row seat and the most wonderful view of the graduation. I didn't know where my daughter was and I was so excited that I texted her and told her to look up at the box. I was so excited that I didn't care if I embarrassed her or not. I started waving and jumping up and down. She found it quite amusing and texted me back with, "Only You Mom!"

It was such a fabulous stroke of luck to run into Antonio....or was he there just waiting for me.....fate certainly found me that day!!!

Candace Kane

In the 1970's, a girlfriend of mine told me that she had graduated with a girl named Candy Kane.

About 20 years ago, I heard from another friend that Candy Kane had married, became a realtor and bought a house on Sugartown Road.

Just last week, I was talking to my dentist in Philadelphia and I was telling her how people name their children funny names and I brought up Candy Kane and how she purposely found a house on Sugartown Road. She started laughing and said that Candy Cane was her neighbor and that she had gone to school with one of her daughters!

Just for fun, I researched some of the silly names people have given their children.

Justin Case, Walter Mellon, Al Ligator, Anna Rexic, April Shours, Art Major, Artie Choke, Barbie Dahl, Bea Sting, Bess Twishes, Beverly Hill, Will Power, Sherman Tank, Stan Bymee, Sue Purb, Tristan Shout, Bob Apple, Pete Moss, Neil Down, Mabel Syrup, Charity Case, Chuck Roast, Sandy Beach, Robin D'Cradle, Crystal Ball, Rocco Gibralter, Dan Druff, Rose Bush, Dane Jeriss, Dee Lightful, Frank Furter, Gene Poole, Ginger Root, Hedda Lettuce, Ima Freeloader......the list goes on and on.

Hope you got a KICK out of this and Wishing you Happy Holidays, Blessed with Good Health, Love & Peace!

Love is All Around

How did couples meet before match.com, eharmony and facebook? There have always been blind dates, parents fixing up their children with their best friend's children, dinner parties, office parties, friends fixing up their friends with their best friend's brother or sister, or neighbor, co-workers hooking up - the list goes on and on.

 

These are all very common but it is the unlikely stories that are the best. When you least expect something, when you are not looking for it, is when it is likely to happen and that is what makes the unexpected so exciting and interesting.

"I feel it in my fingers - I feel it in my toes, Love is all around me - And so the feeling grows. It is written on the wind - That’s everywhere I go, So if you really love me- Come on and let it show. You know I love you - I always will, My mind's made up - By the way that I feel. There's no beginning - There’ll be no end, 'Cause on my love - You can depend."

I will share a few stories of how couples have met and married, and how fate found them.

Sam and Carla waved to each other in the mornings when they were leaving for work (their cars were in the same apartment complex). One day, Carla left a note on Sam's car asking if he would like to meet. Sam ran into Carla shortly after in the parking lot and they talked for awhile and he asked her to dinner. They went to the Joshua Tree Restaurant on their first date. They had only known each other 4 hours and he told her he was going to take care of her for the rest of her life. They were married and when their son was born, they named him Joshua. Thiry some years later, they are happily married.

Spencer and Darlene met at a bookstore and had coffee. Spencer was recently divorced and Darlene was a widow. They dated for a year and were married and just celebrated their 2 year anniversary.

Felix and Arlene met while walking their dogs in their development. Felix was a widow and Arlene was divorced. Felix had a female Bischon and Arlene had a male Shitzu, They knew each other for 4 years before getting married but Felix said he knew after 2 weeks that he wanted to marry her. He is 12 years her senior and they have been happily married for 2 years.

Mark and Carmella met online in a chat room and got to know each other through their conversations via the internet. Mark was from the Northeast and Carmella from the Northwestern region of the state. They were already soulmates but when they met it was truly love at first sight. They have been married for over 6 years and are still madly in love with each other.

"There is no such thing as chance and what seems to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny."

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

IS YOUTH WASTED ON THE YOUNG?
"In August 2009, I started my blog "fate will find you," never expecting that fate would actually find ME because of my blog.

Just a month after I started the blog, an anonymous reader posted a comment under one of my high school stories, inquiring if I could be the same girl he remembered dating in high school. After reading his comments, it only took me a minute to realize who he was but I was not 100% sure until he left his initials.

Rocco found me purely by accident; however, the reason I started my blog is that I believe there are no accidents where fate is concerned and everything happens for a reason.

I grew up in a very strict Italian family and I was not allowed to date until I was 16. My parents made exceptions as long as I dated the sons of their best friends. They were always trying to "fix me up" with my "cousins" because they were such nice boys. Naturally, I wanted to find a nice boy on my own...and I did. Rocco was the first boy I ever dated; tall, dark and handsome and how could my parents object...he was Italian! We dated through my senior year of high school and he moved away when I was 18. Now, 40 some years later, he happened upon my blog!

It has been wonderful, reminiscing and catching up with each others lives. I feel truly blessed and it has done my heart good to take this stroll down memory lane. There are certain people who no matter how much time has passed, they will always be very special because they have touched our lives in such a memorable way and we always carry a piece of them in our hearts...we are truly connected and the memories and experiences of our youth have shaped us into the people we are today. It is comforting to know that we have traveled through time and still hold our memories dear to our heart."

"A moment lasts all of a second but the memory lives on forever!"

Numerology

LUCKY NUMBER

When my son was born, his aunt gave him a Cabbage Patch doll. They were really big in the early 1980's but through his toddler years, he didn't have much interest in it so I kept it in the box and put it away. I actually forgot all about it until a few years ago when I was going through the attic and found it.

At this point, my son was in his mid-twenties and I asked him if it would be all right if I sold it on Ebay. He chuckled and told me to "Go for it." As I took it out of the box and examined it closer, I realized that I could NEVER sell the doll. Here is why.....

When my son was in the 6th grade, he started playing ice hockey. He loved skating and playing hockey so much that he continued playing until he graduated from high school. When he started in 6th grade, he randomly picked the number 55 for his jersey and kept that number for 6 years.

When I took the Cabbage Patch doll out of the box, he was wearing a T-shirt with the number 55 on it!! I could not believe my eyes.....

Enjoy Every Moment

Live every moment - Stop and smell the flowers - Live each day as if it were your last - Easy to say but hard to do.....

In 1983, I lived in a huge neighborhood and only knew my immediate neighbors and those with children my children's ages. There was an adorable woman who lived in the first house in the development but I never had the opportunity to really know her. I knew who she was....everyone knew who she was because she was so cute and would always be seen mowing her lawn in her bikini! Iris was very European and when not mowing the lawn in her bikini, she always dressed in high heels and mini skirts.

We moved out of the neighborhood in 1987. Ten years later, I was shopping in a department store, 40 miles away. I heard a woman speaking with a thick German accent. It was Iris from the old neighborhood. She was a cashier in the ladies department. I went over to introduce myself and she said she recognized my face from a picture that a mutual neighbor friend had sent her just 2 weeks ago.

We talked about friends we had in common and the old neighborhood. She told me she had also moved away and I told her I wished I had gotten to know her when we lived in the same neighborhood. She was full of life, just adorable with her cute accent and wearing her high heeled shoes.

Sadly to say, I heard a year or so later that Iris had fallen down the steps of her house, broke her neck and died. Some of the old neighbors commented that she was wearing her high heels when she fell.

Iris was only in her mid-forties when she passed but she made a lasting impression on all of us and I do believe she enjoyed every moment.

"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand ... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."
- Marie Beynon Ray

Two Hearts Believing in Just One Mind

This story is about an incredible friendship that has lasted for over 30 years.

Bella and David met in the 1970's and became great friends. They had soulful conversations and were always there to support each other whenever they needed a shoulder to cry on.

David moved away and did not have any contact with Bella for many years. Bella would always call David on his birthday and tried to keep up her tradition over the years. At some point, Bella lost track of David and many years later found him again. They did not get together for a visit again until almost 18 years later. About a year ago, Bella, in keeping with her tradition, called David to wish him a happy birthday. They did not want to wait another 18 years, so they decided to meet shortly after David's birthday.

 

A week before they met, Bella was shopping and saw this plaque that made her think of David and she impulsively bought it for him. The plaque read: "If you believe, all things are possible."

 

When Bella and David met, she proudly gave him the present she had found especially for him. To her surprise, David also handed Bella a gift in a beautifully wrapped box. When she opened it, she was speechless. Inside was a bracelet that read: "Nothing is impossible, if you believe."

Two Hearts, One mind - Forever Friends - Anything truly is possible!

Rosey Pelosi

For those of you who do not recognize this woman, she is Nancy Pelosi, the "Speaker of the House."

For those of you who do not personally know me, my maiden name is Pelosi. When people would have trouble pronouncing our last name, my mother would always say, "Rhymes with Rosey, Rosey Pelosi." Growing up, Pelosi was not a common name and the only Pelosi's in the phone book were one of our relatives.

About 3 years ago, I was in Washington, DC with a friend of mine who was attending a pharmaceutical conference. On the last day, they were all invited to a cocktail reception featuring a guest speaker, Nancy Pelosi. He invited me to join them and when we entered the room of hundreds of people, we all mingled and introduced ourselves. I was surrounded by doctors and lawyers and very influential people from different pharmaceutical companies nationwide. They all wanted to know "who" I was with.

Oh dear, who was I with....I blurted out the first thing that popped into my head. "I am Nancy Pelosi's cousin," I proudly exclaimed. Suddenly I had made too many friends! They wanted to know when she was coming and could I introduce them, etc. I calmly told them she would be arriving soon and snuck away to find her and save face.

I went up to the stage area where she was speaking and luckily found her publicist. I explained that I was a Pelosi and would love to meet her. I was prepared to show my driver's license to prove I really was not some nutcase but shortly thereafter, Nancy finished her presentation and came over to me and shook my hand, hugged me and a photo was taken of the two of us.

I told her my relatives were from Baltimore and she said her husband Paul's family were also from Baltimore. Who knows, Paul could really be a distant cousin of mine but it really didn't matter. I had fun, saved myself from what could have been an embarrassing situation and got to meet the Speaker of the House!

Here's to Life

Life IS Good!

"My mama always said, Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

This quote from the movie, Forrest Gump gave me the idea for this blog. You never know what is around the corner and there are so many unexpected pleasures and surprises yet to come, at every turn in the road of life. We should try and be positive, not sweat the small stuff and rejoice because every day we open our eyes is a blessing.

I recently heard this song, sung by Barbra Streisand. The lyrics are by Victor Lee.

"No complaints and no regrets
I still believe in chasing dreams and placing bets
For I have learned that all you give is all you get
So give it all you’ve got

I had my share, I drank my fill And even though I’m satisfied, I’m hungry still
To see what’s down another road beyond the hill And do it all again
So here’s to life, And all the joy it brings.
Yes, here’s to life And dreamers and their dreams

Funny how the time just flies, How love can turn from warm hellos to sad goodbyes
And leave you with the memories you’ve memorized, To keep your winters warm
There’s no yes in yesterday And who knows what tomorrow brings or takes away
As long as I’m still in the game, I want to play For laughs, for life, for love

So here’s to life and all the joy it brings
Yes, here’s to life And dreamers and their dreams
May all your storms be weathered And all that’s good get better
Here’s to life, here’s to love, here’s to you."

So get out there and enjoy every minute of every day and as my dear father used to say, "Think positive and good things will happen." What we anticipate seldom occurs and what we least expect, usually happens!!

In Loving Memory of Doris

Something happened today that I just have to share.

 

Prelude to my story: In 1985, I met a woman named Doris through a neighbor of mine. Doris was very down to earth and soft-spoken and she sold Mary Kay. The 3 of us became friendly and got together at each other's houses for coffee and I started using Mary Kay lipstick and foundation and Doris became "MY" Mary Kay lady.

In 1986, Doris had a little girl and named her Melanie - I always loved that name. When my son was in grade school, he played soccer or baseball with one of Doris' older sons. Through the years, we kept in touch and I would stop by her house to pick up my Mary Kay and we would chat or have coffee. The last time I saw Doris, I remember her youngest son playing in the family room while we visited. He was about 5 or 6 at that time.

 

I lost touch with Doris because I moved out of the area but about 3 years ago, a mutual friend told me that she had passed away from a brain tumor. Her youngest son was only 18 at the time.

Here is my story: This morning I was at the YMCA working out in the gym. I was ready to leave when a young man working in the gym came over to talk to my friend and I. I know most of the staff as I have worked there for 7 years but I did not recognize him. I don't know what prompted our conversation but he was saying that he was 21 and soon pushing 30. We laughed and told him that he had plenty of time and that we would be more than happy to be pushing 30, 40, even 50!!!!!

He made a comment and used his full name. I stopped him in mid-sentence and with tears in my eyes, asked him if he was the son of Doris. Of course, he said, "Yes." I then proceeded to tell him how I knew his mother. I told him that I remembered him playing when he was 6 years old while his mom and I drank coffee. I asked him how Melanie and his brothers were doing.

 

I expressed my sympathy to him on the loss of his mother and he told me that he was recently in a car accident, went into a coma, had his head cut open and is lucky to be alive.

It was such an emotional morning for me, meeting Doris' son after 15 years. From my short conversation with him, I could tell that he is a fine young man, very smart and sensitive and way too young to have lost his mother but I'm sure Doris was up above smiling and is most definitely watching over her precious children.

Peace of Pizza

There is a pizza shop called "Peace of Pizza" and the sign in their window reads: "Sorry We Are Open!" Very clever indeed but the store has little to do with my story. I just thought I would throw it in because it is cute and clever!!! However.....pizza has lots to do with my story!!!!

6 years ago, a pizza shop opened up about 3 blocks from my house. I would go at least once a week for pizza and became friends with the 2 owners. One was in his 40's and the other was in his mid 20's. I knew them on a first name basis as they also knew me in the same manner.

One day, I was telling my son about this pizza place and mentioned the owner's name who was his age. As it turned out, my son worked at a company in North Jersey with the owner's best friend. My son also became roommates with the owner's best friend for a year or so until my son moved to VA. They have kept in touch for the past 3 years and my son just got together with him this past weekend to watch the Phillies game!!!

They have since sold the pizza shop but the memory lives on...oh, and another weird coincidence......the best friend/roommate of my son's name is my son's father's name!!!

"Maybe So, Maybe Not" - Ancient Taoist Proverb

Since my blog is about FATE, I wanted to share this story that I found on Jonathan Lockwood Huie's website. You can find more inspirational stories and quotes at http://www.dreamthisday.com

"One day, a farmer's horse ran away. His neighbors expressed sympathy, "What terrible luck that you lost your horse!" The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

A few days later, the horse returned, leading several wild horses. The neighbors shouted, "Your horse has returned, and brought more with him. What great fortune!" The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

Later that week, the farmer's son was trying to break one of the wild horses and got thrown to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, "Your son broke his leg, what a calamity!" The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, conscripting all the able-bodied young men for the army. They did not take the farmer's son because of his broken leg. Friends shouted, "Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!" To which the farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

Moral: Everything is not what it appears to be."

Bubbie, Brett and Bri-Bri

When my son, Brett was 2 1/2 years old, I was working part-time in a supermarket in Delaware County where I had been working since I was in high school. Since I had a 40 minute commute, I wanted to find childcare for him close to the store so I could work a few days a week as opposed to nights when my husband would be home.

There was a woman who came through my checkout line every week with her baby granddaughter. She told me she babysat in her home but really didn't have room for another toddler. Week after week, I asked if she had any openings and finally she agreed to meet with us. She instantly took a liking to my "perfect little angel" and said she would watch him a couple of days a week. The best part was that she lived only 3 minutes from the supermarket!

I came to find that the distance was NOT the best part. Bubbie was like a grandmother to the children. She had toys galore, read to them, made them hot lunches and put them down for naps. She was so sweet and I was so fortunate to have found her.

Brett had been with Bubbie for a few months and on one particular day, my husband went to pick him up. As he stepped inside the house, another dad came in the door to pick up his 2 1/2 year old son, Bri-Bri. The two dad's looked at each other in amazement. As it turned out, we had all worked together at the same supermarket in high school. Also, Bri-Bri's dad, mom and I graduated from the same high school.

At the time, we were living in Chester County and we soon learned that Bri-Bri and his family lived only 10 minutes from us. A year or so later, I left my job but we all stayed in touch with our beloved Bubbie for years as the boys were growing up. The boys were in different schools and as they got into the pre-teens it was hard to get together. They both developed a love of ice hockey and when they were in high school their teams played against each other.

To this day, they have a special bond and a special memory of their days with Bubbie. 24 years have passed since they were with Bubbie and Brett and Bri-Bri recently ran into each other and had a nice visit. It is my hope that they will somehow find a way to make a surprise visit to Bubbie so she can see what wonderful men they have turned into. The last time I saw Bubbie was about 2 years ago and I know she would be thrilled to see her boys.

A Stroke of Luck

"Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold."

This story has nothing to do with fate or coincidence - just pure luck!

 

I just had to share this story because I had 2 incredible strokes of luck happen involving the same department store - Kohls.

About 6 months ago, I was shopping in Kohls. I went into a dressing room in the front of the store to try on a few outfits. As I went toward the back of the store, I found some other things I wanted to try and as I was ready to leave the 2nd dressing room, I noticed my pearl earring was missing from my left ear. I found the back post still stuck to my ear and looked around the room for the earring but to no avail.

I retraced my steps and my last stop was the first dressing room I had been in at the opposite end of the store. I entered the room and lo and behold, found my earring on the floor. I was so excited, not that the earrings were of any value but I'd had them since high school and knew I would never find another pair like them.

I completely forgot about this incident until today when my 2nd stroke of luck kicked in.....

I planned on running into Kohls real fast, before I headed to the Giant Supermarket. The stores were fairly close to each other so I parked near the Giant and walked over to Kohls. As I was walking, I put my grocery list in my left jean's pocket and did some shopping in Khols. I was probably in there for 1 hour and when I left I stopped to put my packages in my car.

As I left my car to run in the Giant, I put my hand in my pocket to get out my list. It was not there. I was certain I put it in my pocket. I double-checked my purse and I was wracking my brain as to the 10 items on my list. I could only remember 2 of them and it was useless shopping without my list. I walked towards the grocery store and looked over to the left, hoping against hope that I had dropped my list as I was putting it in my pocket. There was a white piece of paper laying on the ground and as I walked over and picked it up......Yes, it WAS my list!!!!!

How could I have been so lucky????? There is no explanation other than in both instances, my timing was perfect and I will leave it at that!!!

High School Comes Back to Haunt You

Like many of my stories, this one is a two-part coincidence; first one occurring 30+ years later and the second part, 37 years later.

In February of 2002, I was living in Chester County. I had dropped my teenager off at a party and rather than go home, I was invited to join friends at their neighbor's house until it was time to pick up my daughter.

It was nice to meet Emma and Walter and somewhere in the course of the conversation, I mentioned I was from Delaware County. Emma told me that she graduated from Haverford High School in 1972. I told her that my husband also graduated from the same high school - same year. All I had to say was his first name and she chimed in with his full name, declaring that she had been in school with him since 5th grade!! She remembered the color of his hair and that he had a crew-cut.

 

In April of 2009, I went to an event hosted by Widener Law School in Wilmington, Delaware.

There was an older man in his 80's, sitting at the end of the bar alone, eating some soup. We started talking and he told me about his recent heart operation and that he was a retired history teacher from Haverford High School. When he told me his name, I recognized it from stories my husband would tell. I asked the gentleman if he remembered my husband. I did not get the same reaction from him that Emma gave so I don't know if that was a good thing or not but I will leave it at that!!

The Piano Connection

Did you ever hear the expression "If it was a snake, it would have bitten you?????" Well, this story will explain it!!

One of my daughter's friends was proficient in piano and decided to teach a few students the summer before he started college. He had one student in particular who he felt was really gifted and knowing I was a piano teacher, asked if I would take him on when he left for school. I agreed and started teaching Jack in October of 2003. He was indeed gifted and a delightful pre-teen at the time.

 

I met Jack's mom at the first lesson and a few weeks later learned that she worked in the same nursery school as one of my best friends. She would drop him off for lessons and wait in the car as most parents did. There wasn't really time for conversations as the students came to me one after another.

 

Meanwhile, I worked at the Ymca, opening the membership desk at 5am on Monday and Friday mornings. I had my regulars and knew everyone on a first name basis. There were 2 guy friends who came in together regularly and I would tease them and call them the "Evil Twins."

 

About 6 months or so went by and one of the evil twins told me I would not see him for 10 days because he and his family were going to Hawaii. That same week, Jack came to his lesson and told me he would not be at next week's lesson because he was going to Hawaii with his family.

 

You can imagine the look on my face when I came to the realization that I had been teaching the evil twin's son all of these months!!!

I had not paid particular attention to their last name and I did not notice the resemblance he had to his dad. What a cool surprise it was to learn I had been teaching his son all of those months!!

Babysitting is our Business

"Children are our most valuable natural resource"

When I was living in Delaware County, I started babysitting at the age of 13. I once remember sitting for a family who had 5 girls. It was fun at first but I welcomed the chance (for peace and quiet!!) to sit for my neighbor's son. For the sake of the significance of my story, I will approximate that I sat for him in 1967.

In 1983, my husband and I moved to Chester County (about 40 minutes from Delaware County). We started a family of our own and when my daughter was 13 we moved to a huge development with lots of younger kids for her to babysit. She babysat for a few families in the development but her favorite family had 2 girls ages 4 and 6. She started sitting for them in 1999 until they were old enough that they didn't need a sitter. She loved them and they loved her. She read to them, braided their hair, painted their nails and we became good friends with the family.

 

When she first started sitting for them we discovered that they had also moved from Delaware County. Here is the best part.....the father of the girls was the stepson and stepbrother of the boy I babysat for in my neighborhood in Delaware County.

 

The story gets even better....a year and a half later, my son attended a private high school in Malvern and guess who his theology teacher was?????? The little boy who I babysat for in my neighborhood and uncle of the girls my daughter sat for!!!!!

We are still friends with this family and treasure our memories together!!

Puppy Love - First Childhood Crush

"Like an old photograph, time can make a feeling fade.

But the memory of a first love, never fades away."

When I was 5 years old, I met a kid in the neighborhood named David. We would play outside with other kids from the houses around us...there were girls and boys of all ages and we would play ball, run, hide and seek, play "red light, green light" and just have fun outdoors. I had such a crush on David from the time I was 5 until I was 12. I just loved him...he was my first love. When he was 13, he moved away and we had no idea where he went.

I kept in touch with one girl from the neighborhood. She was my best girlfriend, named Patrice. Over the years, off and on, I would ask her, "I wonder what happened to David?" I told her that it would be so cool to see him and we wondered what he was up to. So, years and years passed and he was tucked away in the back of my mind.

A few months ago, a friend from Arizona invited me to join Facebook. It is a way to connect with friends, find old friends, post pictures, etc. I joined but never bothered with it much and in 2 weeks or so went back on and noticed a box at the top that said "reconnect with old friends." I found myself typing in David's name and I found a match in Houston. I emailed him and asked if he grew up in my hometown. He responded back with the name of his street and I knew instantly it was him.

I excitedly wrote back to see if he remembered me. He did and told me he was going to be in Philly for a job interview and did I want to get together. I was thrilled and tried to contain myself as I dialed my mother to tell her the news. Right away the Italian mother in her asked me if he was married, what did he look like.....I stopped her right there and told her that I did not care if he was married or what he looked like. I was not meeting him for that purpose. I did not care about his looks or marital status. All I cared about was coming face to face with the man, who as a child, was my first crush, my first love.

I cannot tell you how I felt when I saw him. We hugged, I was teary eyed and we talked about the neighborhood and playing ball in the street. I told him that he could not ever imagine what it meant to me to see him after 43 years, that he was my first love, my first childhood crush. I think he turned all shades of red as he did not have a clue. After all, we were kids and girls had cooties.

The amazing thing about this was the timing. He was living in Texas and just happened to be in Philly around the time he recieved my email. Another weird twist is that the day we met just happened to be my best friend Patrice's birthday.

It has been a year now since we met and we have become good friends. It was a dream of mine that I never in a million years thought would come true and here we are 43 years later, a 12 year old's dream come true. Something like this only happens once in a lifetime. I feel so blessed that we have become good friends and I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever see him again. This was truly the work of a higher power!!!!!

A Good Deed, A Good Dame

In the beginning of 2006, when I was working for the Downingtown Chamber of Commerce, a woman called and asked if I could give her the telephone number of a mover in my area. I asked her why because there were so many movers and I needed more details.

She told me that she was bidding on dishes on Ebay and it was "pick up only" and she lived in Texas but she really wanted the dishes. She contacted the Ebay seller but they were not willing to ship them out. Apparently, they were discontinued and she had to have them!

I told her that I lived in the area and that I would pick them up and ship them out to her. When I went to pick up the dishes, it turned out that the seller lived in my old neighborhood. I took them to a UPS packing store and had them shipped out to Virginia in Texas.

She could not believe that I, a total stranger, would do this for her. I told her it was not a big deal and I was only picking them up and shipping them off (of course I had her CC info so it was not out of my pocket).

She sent me flowers when her dishes arrived as a "thank you" for being so kind. She had her dishes to complete her set, I did a good deed and that was the end of that......so I thought!

The end of 2007, I went to Fort Worth, Texas and had the contact information for Virginia. I called her and she was a 2 hour drive from where I was. I hopped in the car and drove to her house for a visit, had lunch with her and her hubby and drove back to Fort Worth where I was staying. It was totally random that I would end up being that close to her and really a bizarre twist of fate or was it just a coincidence????? Not that this is that unusual, but I was born in Virginia and her name was Virginia. Was this supposed to happen or was it just a chance meeting from a good deed??????

Same Age 32 Years Later

In 1973, a very good friend of mine from high school and I were 20 years old.

In 2005, his daughter & my daughter met when they were 20 years old.

We wanted to introduce our daughters because they were both attending the same college & one of them was looking for a room mate. They met, half-heartedly because at that age, who wants to meet the daughter of their parent's high school friends. Well, one thing led to another & they discovered that they had many things in common; their birthdays were only 6 days apart, they were both Italian, loved Frank Sinatra & they could pass for sisters (we referred to them as "the twins"). They became great friends & eventually room mates.

What a strange and wonderful coincidence that 32 years later, our daughters met and became very good friends!

My Darling Dutch Daughter

I'm back after the long holiday weekend with part 3 of my story regarding the Dutchman.

After corresponding with him via email for almost 3 years, he told me that his oldest daughter has been saving her money for 1 year in order to come to America. He proposed that she would come and live with me for 2 months, find a job and perfect her English.

I met her briefly while visiting the Netherlands but was nervous about having the responsibility of a 23 year old. I got busy painting her room and found a pretty lamp and bedspread to match the curtains that were in my own daughter's old bedroom. I cut some fresh flowers from my garden and was very excited about her visit. I went shopping for goodies and made a list of all of the places I would take her.

I went to pick her up from the airport on September 1st. Tomorrow will be 1 week that she has been here. The week has flown by and we have been busy every day and every night. Tonight she is with my own darling daughter having more fun with her own age group than her American mother!

My Dutch daughter is speaking very good English. She is bright and sweet and helpful and charming and wonderful and I am so glad that I can contribute to this once in a lifetime experience for her. If I had not met her father and mother by the "fateful encounter," this would not have been possible. Everything happens for a reason - Elk ding gebeurt om een reden.

I am trying very hard to learn Dutch but she may have to stay longer than 2 months for that to happen!!!

Wizard of Oss

This is the 2nd part of my fabulous story about meeting the Dutchman, the fabulous "Wizard of Oss."

We arrived at a beautiful hotel in Oss and were wiped out since the time change was 6 hours difference. The next morning we decided to take a quick walk around the town. It was enjoyable but as all tourists venturing out alone in a foreign land, we found ourselves lost and unable to find our hotel. Thank God my male friend was agreeable to asking directions!

We wondered into a random store in our travels. It was a produce store and the owner came over to greet us. We told him we were from America on business and needed to get back to our hotel. My boyfriend told him the name of the company he was with in Oss and he immediately grinned and said, "I know who you are."

Well, it turned out that my Dutchman was the store owner's best friend and he was telling him about our visit. To make it even more interesting, the store owner wanted to play a trick on his best friend and gave us shirts with his store logo and asked if we would wear them later that night when we went over to the Dutchman's house.

When we walked into the house, his eyes almost popped out of his head. He wanted to know where we got the shirts. I told him I bought them on Ebay (since this is how we met in the first place) and he did not believe me. I tried to fool him for as long as I could but finally burst into laughter and told him the truth.

Out of all of the shops we passed, why did we stop at this one?????
The answer is simple......fate lead us to his door!!!!

One of My BEST Fate Stories

They say everything happens for a reason. Who are "they" and what is the reason.

I wanted to save this story for somewhere down the road but I just can't wait. This can be nothing other than fate.

In December of 2006, my friend asked me to pay for something she bought on Ebay (she didn't have Paypal) and she would reimburse me for the item. When I went to pay the seller, I noticed his address was Oss in the Netherlands.

When I sent the payment, I added a note and told the Dutchman that my boyfriend worked for a company whose headquarters were in Oss and gave him the name of the company. He wrote back and said, "I, too work for that company."

Out of everyone in the entire world, what are the chances of this happening.

We emailed each other often and a few months later my boyfriend went there on business and I set up a meeting with the 2 of them. He met the Dutchman and his family and came home telling me how nice and hospitable they all were. After that, I kept in constant email contact with the Dutchman and 6 months later my boyfriend and I went to Oss and I met the Dutchman and his family.

Their English was very good and they showed me around Holland while my boyfriend was in his meetings. It was the experience of a lifetime and I have made a friend for life.

It was amazing enough for this to happen and then to actually meet him. We have kept in touch now for over 2 1/2 years and I consider him one of my dearest friends!

There are 2 more parts to this story so stay tuned....

Circle of Friends

This story is about friends, lovers and other strangers, who became connected through coincidence and for 2 of them ending up where they first started.

I am protecting their identity with fictitious names. I hope they like the names I picked out for them.

Preston and Lillian grew up as neighborhood kids in North Jersey.
Kim grew up in Virginia and Benson grew up in PA.

It all started with Benson going off to college in Virginia where he met Kim who was attending the same school. They dated for Freshman year and then Sophomore year, Benson transferred to a college in PA.

When in the PA college, Benson met Lillian and the two of them dated for 3 years until he graduated. Lillian and Benson stayed together for awhile, Lillian graduated the following year and went home to North Jersey.

When Benson left Virginia to attend college in PA, Kim met Preston at his college in Virginia and they started dating. They dated until Preston graduated and went home to North Jersey.

So, while Preston and Kim were dating in Virginia, Benson and Lillian were dating in PA. They all knew about each other because of their past connections.

They all broke up with their respective partners when they graduated college and went back to their hometowns.

Now we are at the end of our story....what do you think happened next?????

Preston and Lilllian started dating and have been together ever since!!!

And the coincidence continues......Benson met a girl years later when he moved to Virginia for a job. They have been dating now for 3 years. Guess what her name is....Her first name is Kim and her middle name is Lillian!!!!!

A Game of Chance?

Destiny- "The fixed order of things - invincible necessity - fate - a resistless power or agency conceived of as determining the future whether in general or of an individual."

Coincidence - "A term used by many indicating fluke, luck or chance but when you look to the heart of it, you'll see there is more to it than you think."

Has something strange ever happened to you where you ended up brushing it off as coincidence? You know, one of those fluke things that you can’t explain, but don’t really want to attach any significance or meaning to it? For example, you think about a friend and later that day he or she calls you. Or, you run into people that are linked to your past through someone else and your paths cross.

In November 2001, when I first started working at the local YMCA in Downingtown, one of the fitness instructors asked me my last name and when I told her she said I had a twin in Malvern. I asked her the woman's name and when she told me I nearly lost my front teeth!!!!

My son had been dating a girl from Malvern and "my twin" just happened to be her mother. For those of you who are not aware of the geographics, Malvern is about 15 miles or so from Downingtown. I'm not sure how the fitness instructor knew "my twin" but you can be sure I am going to ask her!!

How do we explain these happenings? Is it really all a game of chance and if so, what are the chances that I would even know this woman let alone my son would be dating her daughter.

“A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have”

This story is about my girlfriend of 22 years. The way we met is not that unusual but the similarities that followed were extraordinary and we will be "sisters" forever.

I was at the local YMCA taking an exercise class to lose some of my baby fat from my second child. One night during class, I looked over and saw a woman who reminded me of a soap opera star. My mom and I watched a soap called "Loving" and she looked like a beautiful woman whose role name was "Ava." (Many years after we became friends, her niece named her daughter Ava - not knowing the story of how we met!!!)

I went over to her after class and told her that she resembled this adorable woman. She very nicely replied, "I don't watch soap operas." We started talking after a few classes passed and realized that we had sons in the same kindergarten class, we both taught piano and lived 3 minutes away from each other.

We became friends and walked and talked every morning before our children got on the school bus. We did this for 10 years until we moved far enough away that walking became impossible but we remained friends.

We socialized with our spouses and other friends in common, had our piano recitals together, and did a variety of other things together.

There are two other things that I feel are huge coincidences. Her next door neighbors used to shop at a supermarket that I worked in when I was a teenager -about 15 years from then. They always came through my cash register line and their son was also in my son's kindergarten class. We also became very good friends in the years that followed. And her other neighbor across the street was a woman that I went to high school with whose son ended up becoming friends with my son!

We both feel that we are truly connected by something other than chance....what do you think?

The Many Faces of Fate

Mostly my blog relates to fateful love encounters but I do want to interject other fateful situations. I would like to start with one that happened in 1985.

We moved from Delaware County to Chester County, as did many others like us so running into people from Delaware County was a common occurrence for me.

There was only 1 supermarket in the area so when the Clemen's opened in Lionville, I was thrilled. Being a regular shopper you got to know the employees & I loved sharing with them that I was an ex-Pathmark employee.

One day I was telling the meat manager how I worked at the Pathmark in Marple. He told me that his grandmother lived in Broomall. I told him I grew up in Broomall on Springhouse Lane & he said, "My grandmother lived on Springhouse Lane."

Just so you know, Springhouse Lane is a very LONG Lane. There are probably 25 houses on each side of the street so what are the chances that I would know his grandmother. When he told me her name, I could not believe it. She was my next door neighbor!!!!! She was my mother's best friend! She used to give my sister & I candy & we were always over there visiting her. Her children attended my wedding!!

After this fateful encounter, I started keeping a diary of similar stories & encounters. I can't wait to share them with you.

Forever & A Day

This story is how my mom & dad met, known for many years as Loo & Poo.

They grew up in South Philly, about 15 blocks from each other, their mothers were friendly & they had a few friends in common. They first met at age 14 at a Halloween party. They were all playing "Spin the Bottle" & Loo refused to kiss any of the boys.

10 years later, a neighborhood friend (Andy) asked Loo out on a date to double with Poo & his date. When Poo asked Andy who he was bringing as his date & told him it was Loo, Poo's comment was, "Oh, that Wallflower?"

They went to the Officer's Club in Willow Grove for dinner & dancing. At some point they switched dancing partners & after that first dance, Poo refused to give Loo back to her date & danced with her the rest of the night.

They dated for years & Loo was very happy being single & put off his marriage proposals for a few more years until finally they tied the knot & lived happily together for 56 years!!

Dad passed away in September of 2006 & what do you think is on his tombstone? "Forever and a Day."

The Fickle Finger of Fate

We've all heard this expression before about the fickle finger of fate. Do we determine our destiny or is it already mapped out for us? So many people have stories of missing a flight & it crashed or taking a different route to work & missing a huge tractor trailer accident.

There is "good" fate & "bad" fate & although I started this blog to tell the wonderful fate stories of couples in love, occasionally there will be some unpleasant reminders of the "bad" fate.

I didn't intend to start off on a bad note but I will share an unfortunate fate story with you.

When my sister was 25, she & her husband of only 1 year, were hit by a truck while they were on a motorcycle on the way to Valley Forge Park. Here are the chain of events that caused their "bad" fate.

A driver headed west went around a bicyclist into the oncoming lane. Another driver headed east jammed his brakes on causing all of the cars behind him to come to a sudden stop. The motorcycle either tried to stop suddenly and/or swerved into the oncoming lane where a truck was headed west.

That was the end of their lives, 2 young newlyweds in love, never thinking that they would not make it home for dinner that night. Could this have been avoided or was it their destiny?

My First Post

This is my first post to my newly created blog.

I have been wanting to write a book about FATE & how & why certain people come in and out of our lives & for what reason.

I do believe that there are reasons but yet to figure out the WHY....so, I am writing about the "fateish" things that have happened to me & the people I have met with such great FATE stories that I want to share them with the world.

So, stay tuned....more to come!!!