Serendipity

Serendipity

“‘Well, you can go on looking forward,’ said Gandalf. ‘There may be many unexpected feasts ahead of you.'”

J.R.R. Tolkien

Years ago, when our girls were about four, my wife and I were preparing to depart for a much-needed date weekend to Santa Barbara. It takes a lot to get out of the house on a Friday afternoon, leaving three kids at home with a babysitter, while giving and making final instructions, preparations, and warnings. So, it was dark by the time we left.

As we went out the door, I told the babysitter to move her car onto the driveway by the garage, as our neighborhood did not allow street parking overnight.

When we got on the freeway, we remembered that we had forgotten something, which was so important that I can’t remember now what it was! So, we turned around and went back.

It didn’t take long to find the mystery object, so we weren’t there too long, but hugged and kissed our kids goodbye again, issuing a few more instructions and warnings.

In a bit of a hurry, I pulled out of the garage, as we had planned for dinner in Santa Barbara and were now running late for our reservation. We ran squarely into the babysitter’s black car, looming in the darkness, which had not been there ten minutes before, when I had inadvertently suggested that she park it where I could run into it.

If it had been a watermelon, and I a karate expert, I couldn’t have hit it more precisely. The driver door was completely caved in. The car was still drivable, my face was red, and the babysitter was understanding, especially since I said I’d pay to have it fixed. So, we were on our way, again.

We did manage to make it to Santa Barbara, having a lovely dinner and a wonderful weekend. When we returned, I told the babysitter to find an auto shop that she trusted would do a good job, and I would pay for the repairs. But she delayed, and every couple of weeks or so, I would ask how it was going on getting her car fixed.

Then, one Friday night, she told us her car had been stolen. This took a few minutes to sink in, but I realized, a bit sheepishly, that I was essentially off the hook.

She was paid by the insurance company, we added some to her funds, and she got a new car, with no dent, and never parked on our driveway again.