Serendipity
I’ve always loved the sound of the word serendipity. It sounds so delightful and playful.
I had a most wonderful experience last Friday. Amy, Tom, and I have been meeting as a small book club for several months, happily reading our way through Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch. We would routinely meet for tea and discuss a part of the book.
During one of our book club meetings, Amy mentioned George and it turns out that George and I taught together 20 years ago. George and his wife created Homewood Studios, “an artists’ workspace and gallery/meeting space…designed for local artists and their neighbors in the belief the visible presence of working artists contributes to the vitality, self-image, and coherence of our community.” Pretty cool! Amy made arrangements for all of us to meet at Homewood—Amy also said she invited “some other friends” as well.
I wondered what it would be like meeting George again after 20 years. I always felt like George and I were kindred spirits. Should I offer to shake his hand? On seeing him, we both spontaneously went for the long, tight hug—it was like where we left off and 20 years didn’t make a difference.
Well, to my happy surprise, the “other friends” that Amy brought were other friends I hadn’t seen in some years, Sharon and John—wow! Excited shrieks all round because Tom knew George and Sharon knew Tom. It’s probably hard to follow, but it was great.
It was delightful and playful. I’ve learned that George published a book of prose poems, Elfriede’s Cat: Notes of a High School Literature Teacher. While I’ve only perused the book, it looks wonderful—full of insight about teaching and kids. The book also raises deeper questions about learning, schools, and our society. But more about that next time.
Wishing you a serendipitous event in your life.