It’s been a perfect storm as heat wave temperatures collided with hazy smoky skies as forest fires sent acrid air from Canada into the Northeastern United States. This confluence of events caused air quality advisories to go on high alert. That’s why it seemed that we were the extras in a summer blockbuster movie.
Early Thursday morning in the wee hours of dawn, I boarded a 7:20 am Hampton Jitney to attend a women’s gathering in the LongHouse Reserve nature sanctuary and sculpture park. About halfway through the three-hour bus ride, I got a text stating the event was cancelled due to the toxic air advisory.
Fortunately, the ebullient co-chair of the women’s group was waiting to pick me up at the bus stop. As this was our first meeting and we both knew I had another three-hour bus ride back to the city in a few hours, Stephanie graciously offered to take me out for lunch. One of life’s treasures is when we connect with another person in a spontaneous and meaningful way. We talked for four hours, pausing briefly when she took a pre-arranged phone call. That’s when I got to enjoy a spontaneous solo swim in a gorgeous swimming pool.
This reminded me of a wonderful adage, “Luck favors the prepared.” Because the night before, as I was packaging a tote bag for the excursion – cell phone and charger, sunblock, big straw hat, Nalgene filled with water, and some food for the bus trip – I also threw in a bathing suit at the last minute. My internal dialogue went something like this:
“Why are you bringing a bathing suit? It’s a nature/art tour followed by lunch.”
“Well, swimmers gotta swim. The Hamptons is full of pretty houses with nice swimming pools. Should the opportunity arise, I’ll be ready!”
So while Stephanie was on her call, I took the plunge and knew that the swim would come in handy while sitting on that three-hour bus ride back into the city.
While Stephanie and I are at different ages and stages in our lives, there were so many times when we felt incredible identification, shared values, and admiration. And that’s what happens when we’re open to flow. We can experience wonderful opportunities that are synchronistic and meaningful.
I’m excited to meet the rest of the group when they reschedule the outing or reconvene in the Fall. I never would have had the chance to connect so deeply with this new friend had things gone according to plan. Today’s adventure reminds me of Robert Frost’s famous poem, The Road Not Taken.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less travelled by
And that has made all the difference.”
I wish you small and large adventures
Wherever your travels may lead you.
