Coincidence?

Here's a story that illustrates a fairly new intention and belief of mine. In the past 9 months or so, I've begun drawing people into my life who don't fit the mold of my previous expectations and pictures of who I find myself hanging out with. It's difficult to describe how this has been intentional without me being fully aware of the change in myself, but it has been both. My acceptance has opened up a bit, and in parallel timing, I have established friendships with a handful of really wonderful people.

Once upon a time, I headed out to Sevananda to buy a few quick groceries. I felt no rush, it was a laissez-faire summer afternoon. I had finished teaching and not yet started actively looking for a new job. I was probably near the peak period of my serial dating phase. I park my car and meet a guy right side the store. He gives me the usual explanation that he means no harm, just needs a meal. He said he'd just moved to Atlanta and didn't have much money. Pretty clean-looking guy. Definitely not stinky, high, drunk, or even grungy.

It's the middle of the afternoon, pretty busy, I feel completely at ease, so I say, "Sure, pick something out and meet me at the check-out. No problem." I buy the food, and we go outside. To show his gratitude, he plays me a song on his recorder and creates a poem just for me:). It was sweet and the recorder made me laugh a little. We introduce ourselves and he wants to chat and hang out more. I've gotten to the end of my comfort zone, so I excuse myself. He's cool, though.

Last night, I go upstairs to play Scrabble w/ Les because we haven't hung out since our little "tiff" so to speak. Anyway, so he suggests inviting his friend over to play with me. I say, "Sure, is he hot? Should I go change out of my sweats?" Friend comes over, we hang out, have fun, he says he's lived here about six months, very eager (without actually hitting on me) to hang out with me again. And I'm thinking, why does he look familiar? Huh.

When I went to Sevananda today, it dawned on me! Friend and I met at Sevananda this summer!!! Crazy! I'm like, NO WAY! But the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that it's true. Everything fits. Bizarre and cool. I just emailed him to ask if we'd met at Sevananda, so we'll see if my memory is correct.

Shout out to my friend kewlkat!! She just got her first "real" career-related job. She starts next week as a Bilingual Human Rights Representative for the Human Rights Commission for the state of TN in Knoxville. Rock on kewlkat!!! Congrats!!