Happy Accident
Serendipity. It
was the first word; I swear on my wee little life, the first word I saw when I
opened the dictionary. Today’s writing
prompt: write a story that starts with a
word you pick out of the dictionary at random. What are the odds that my eyes would fall arbitrarily
on a word defined as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable
things not sought for? It was pleasant
surprise, very serendipitous in fact.
The universe somehow magically manages to connect the dots with happy
accidents, like me finding such a fortunately ironic word for a writing prompt
exercise, like Isaac Newton’s famed apple dropping from a tree that led him to
his musings about the nature of gravitation or like my friend Nan reluctantly
attending a wedding reception only to meet the love of her life. She snuck into the tent out in the middle of
a field in New Ross and quietly sat herself at the most inconspicuous table in the
back. She hated her friend’s bride with
the fire of a thousand suns but couldn’t bring herself to actually miss what
would most likely be the most important day of his life. While she dressed herself in a simple summer
dress and sling back shoes she reminded herself that it is more important to
support your loved ones and not judge.
As long as Jack was happy, who was she to disagree.
Under the big top and twinkly lights Nan sat with her
legs crossed sipping champagne with a strawberry bobbing at the bottom of the
flute listening to the wedding band play
a pleasant version of ‘Stand by Me’. A
voice spoke close to her ear, in a husky masculine tone, “Friend of the bride
or the groom?”
Nan stifled a gasp from the chill the mystery man sent
down her bare spine. She cleared her
throat and slowly turned to meet her table companion, “The groom. You?”
He flashed a smile that near blinded her, “Blushing
bride.”
Nan’s reply flew nervously out through her lips, “Sorry
to hear that.”
Playful laughter erupted from her table’s handsome and unwelcome
guest, “Tell me how you really feel?” He
extended his hand and introduced himself, “Carson Morrow, pleasure.”
She took his hand and watched while he placed a soft kiss
on the top of her fingers, “Nan Forbes, likewise.”
He stood, straightening out his disheveled tie and looked
down to her, “Care to dance, pretty girl?”
It took her a long time to answer because in that one moment
staring up at him, she fell in head over heels in love, claiming his eyes
destroyed her, “I’d love to.”
And they danced; all night, all the way into the next day
and the next. Serendipity in
action.
I guess my writing prompt isn’t so much a story as it is the
account of Nan’s new flourishing romance.
I am so pleased for her, such happenstance to have found Carson on a
night when she was certain would be miserable.
Much the same as it was some kind
of karmic fate I settled my eyes on serendipity when I sat down to write today.
**
I missed yesterday’s writing prompt because I wasn’t
feeling well. I crashed after work with
a raging headache and so I didn’t get anything down. If time permits today, there may be a double
dose of Teapot but if not I won’t beat myself up too much. Today’s was light and fortunate. Landing that word is exactly its
definition. Too cool.
Tomorrow is my Friday which I’m happy about. I look forward to a three day weekend and am
happy that it’s finally Hubbards weekend!
I plan to have coffee and chatter with my pal Heather tomorrow after
work and I may even get a card tag to Ru out seeing as I got one from her yesterday
with a hilarious quote on the cover. I
also received a lovely card from Erica too that meant a lot to me, it feels
good to be loved.
I’ve had my soup and soon it’ll be time for green tea and
my pear. Three more hours of this work
day and I can go enjoy the sun. Yippee!
I wish you happy accidents all day long.
In propinquity,
Nic
