Perhaps you have visited my page about Coincidence. Well, today’s story ALMOST merits inclusion on the page, and would have been, if only technology hadn’t intervened.  Here’s what went down….

I was in a new retail development called “Uptown” –kind of an open-air/outlet mall/plaza sort of a thing, located (ironically) just outside of downtown Victoria.  I went first into a tea store, and while I was waiting for my chai latte, a young hipstery sort of a guy came in, obviously known to the Tea Shop staff, and general kibbitzing and merriment ensued while he ordered his tea. I finished my purchases, walked back into the plaza and spotted the Cupcake store. Thinking a dozen delicious mini-cupcakes would be the perfect “Mommy’s Home!” gift, in I went.  Only to come face to face with the Hipster from the Tea Shop. At this point, for whatever reason, we both started to speak ala gangster: “that would be dope, yo”, and “that’s how I roll”, and “I see you are are quite gangsta”. There was also a suggestion that I had stalked him from the Tea Store, but he wouldn’t know I was stalking him unless I showed up in his driveway….When he said “Oh, I’m not worried about that, it’s too far away” I should have paid attention.

More than an hour later and about 50km away, I pulled up to the stop light, waiting to turn left,  5 minutes from home.  I happen to glance at the car to my right, and who should be driving but the Gangsta Cupcake Merchant. I rolled down my window, I waved, a beeped my horn, but as I said at the top, it was only technology that intervened and made this coincidence so much less than it could have been…. probably 40% of the time when I stop at that particular light, I don’t trigger the advance green.  Sometimes, I’ve sat through 3 cycles before it gives me my advance.  Today? Nope, worked first time, and as I pulled away from my almost-new-best-coincidence-friend, I knew why he hadn’t seen me… he was looking down, doing the tell-tale check-my-phone-at- the-stoplight maneuver….not knowing that merely 10 feet to his left, with a big grin of disbelief on its face, was the most awkward moment of his life.

Safe travels, Cupcake Boy…. you were SO close to making it to the Show.