HELLO, World.
It’s me again. I’m back with a fresh direction for the stuff that I’d like to put out there in the wide wide world.
I could go on a lengthy explanation about the reasons for my silence and my sudden urge to resume this blog (and my many other websites) but I neglected to bring my laptop’s battery charger so I’ll make this quick.
SERENDIPITY
Through the years, I’ve equated chance encounters with fate, destiny, and purpose, maybe as my way of romanticizing accidents, disasters, and seeming uneventful episodes.
Take, for instance, the time when a freak vehicular accident happened at the basement parking of the Rockwell Power Plant Mall many years ago. It was a classic hit-and-run and the driver turned out to be a nice, good-looking man who not long after became a good friend. He still is. 🙂
But not all chance encounters involve mishaps such as a car crash. Thank goodness.
One recent incident happened inside a supermarket, by the hot sauce shelf atop the vegetable chiller. My sons and I love spicy hot sauce and have been in search of Nando’s Extra Hot sauce in Cebu but can’t seem to find it in town. I’ve made it a habit then to keep an eye out for bottles of hot sauce such as Nando’s every time I hit the grocery.
That time was like any other day (rather, night) at the supermarket after work. People in office clothes were rushing in and out as I sauntered to the vegetable chiller for some fresh romaine and tomatoes. Above the chiller were bottles of red sauce and as I reached for one to check the brand and ingredients, a gentleman’s voice behind me said:
“Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind the intrusion but I’m from Mexico and there we love our hot sauce.”
As I turned around, I saw a slightly tanned man in his early thirties, with light brown hair, rosy cheeks, and beautiful twinkling eyes. He continued to explain:
“That one there, what you’re holding is spicy but many of us in Mexico…we prefer this ONE.” (and he points to another bottle)
“Both are spicy, if you’re looking for really spicy sauce, but this ONE, to me, has better flavor, not just spiciness.”
Immediately, I returned the first bottle and got the ONE that he pointed at. Flustered and aware that some customers were curiously watching us, I only managed to say:
“Hey, thanks. I really appreciate your suggestion. I’m buying this ONE!”
Then, I left.
I went around a few aisles after that and saw him one more time asking for directions to another product.
Finally, I left the counter where I paid for my purchases and as I walked out of the supermarket, I saw him again waiting in line for his turn to pay, but this time, he lifted his chin higher and looked my way as I made for the exit. God! What is this?!
Two days after that, I visited the same mall after working hours, half wondering as I walked around whether I would bump into the nice Mexican hot sauce, I mean, stranger, once again. Alas, my blog post ends here.
Serendipity:Â “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” (Source: Oxford)
Yeah, and the brand name of the flavorful hot sauce is…… “Valentina” (for Valentine?)
Love and Light,
X