Kismet!

A few days ago I wrote an article about a new friend I'd made at The Second Cup.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976854869

Hande and I started talking about our backgrounds. She was born in Turkey, and I was born here in Canada, to a Danish mother and a Canadian father. We talked for a while, and she surprised me with a box of Turkish Delight. She also explained to me the real meaning of the word kismet. Hande explained that it goes way beyond luck, that if something was destined to happen it would. I believed it before, I believe it the night we met, but tonight I really believe it!

Today I'd planned to purchase a laptop cooling pad at Staples, and from there go to Shoppers Drug Mart to get some stuff. I had enough points to get $75 off, and because of a promotion they were going to add an extra $25, so I'd get $100 off, Saturday and Sunday only.

When I got to Staples, my bank card was rejected because there was a problem with the strip. I don't need to tell you that I was annoyed. I decided to go home, and go to Shoppers later.

A few hours later, having had no recent computer problems (I packed the computer in ice so it wouldn't overheat!) I decided to go to Shoppers and get my stuff.

"Hi Leah!"

I looked up to see who had sat down next to me, and there was Hande! We chatted for a while, until she got off one stop before me, at the mall. I did my shopping and went back outside to wait for the bus.

While I waited for the bus I started thinking. Darn! I'd forgotten to ask Hande at what temperature I should boil the water when making Turkish coffee. I also wanted to tell her about Gather.

It would have been faster to cross the street and catch it on the other side, but I had way too much stuff. I knew getting on that bus meant getting home an hour later, but I really didn't care. The bus came, and I got on.

For whatever reason an old Danish Christmas Carol was going around and around in my head. Maybe Mormor was trying to send me a message from Heaven. 

"We meet again!"

It was Hande! Had I decided to take the shortcut and take the bus across the street I would have missed her.

She answered my question about Turkish coffee, and I told her a bit about Gather. I hope she joins us. She got off at her stop, and I rode a few stops further to my apartment. 

It's one thing to know the meaning of words like kismet, it's another thing to learn from experience.

I don't think I was wrong about that message from Heaven either. Mormor always did like strong coffee and Turkish Delight. 

Hande and I are both regulars at The Second Cup, we both ride the busses often, and we have eachother's e-mail addresses. No doubt we will run into eachother often.