Weekly Topic: "Winding Up"

"Cosmic Game of Chess" art by J. Boyd

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Last Sunday afternoon, Rob and I, and our two friends, C and J, were standing on the corner talking to a police officer, after J's car was crashed into by a hit and run driver. Thankfully, we were all inside, having a late lunch at our place. Since the topic this week is "winding up," I'm going to tell you exactly how we all found ourselves at that intersection.

C, J and I had been planning to get together for lunch for since January, but due to conflicts in coordinating three schedules, it just didn't happen. I know that I canceled once, at least. So, last Sunday was going to be the day, and we were all looking forward to visiting. Because C's birthday was near, we thought that we would celebrate that too, and have lunch at a restaurant, then browse some neighborhood shops.

Portland weather being what it is, rainy, we debated if it made sense to window shop on a wet day. Then we weren't sure if the restaurant was open on Sunday afternoon, and there was some mention of the expense of the chosen place, so I invited the ladies here, and offered to make a quiche. J decided that since she wasn't going in on a spendy lunch, that she would stop, on her way over, and pick up some yummy desserts. Everything was falling into place.

We were about half-way through our meal when we heard the loud squealing of a vehicle traveling too fast. I know that Rob and I didn't pay that much attention at first, it's not uncommon in the area, but, as the sound drew closer, we all took notice, because this sounded really fast and out of control. Then there was a horrible sliding sound and a loud thump.

J looked out through the large dining room windows and said, "He just hit my car!" And as soon as he hit it, he sped off. I called 9-1-1.

J was in pretty good spirits about the whole thing, as she talked about how long it had taken for us to get together, all the changes of plans, only to wind up parked on that corner, at just the right, or wrong time. Then C chipped in and reminded her of how she was originally parked in a different location, but, unparked, then re-parked right there at that corner.

"It was just meant to be," J said. And, maybe she's right.