Serendipity

The day started out as expected.  The two 'garcons' off to school and French Guy and I get ready to take Petite Fille to a doctor's appointment a few cities away, about an hours drive.  The appointment was at 10:30 so we packed up snacks and lunch for the baby, just in case it went long.  As we are getting into the car I asked French Guy if the appointment had been confirmed?  The 'rendez-vous' with a specialist had been made six months ago, so you figure that we should have gotten a call (or called ourselves) to make sure it was still on and being just under an hour's drive it would be a shame to arrive and find that the appointment had been cancelled or worse yet, double booked.

Off we went..... unconfirmed.  In fact we didn't even have the original letter from the hospital or even a number or contact to call with us so we just headed out, on our way, running a bit late.

I love having time in the car to chat with French Guy with less than three children with us.  If Petite Fille is occupied we can actually get in good conversation or even make it a 'working' commute by talking business.  Funny how we can get better quality 'chat time' on the road so much more than we can in our home.....go figure!

We'll I will get right to the point.  We arrive at the doctor's office to find that the appointment was ...... YESTERDAY.  (Lucky in France you are not charged for a missed appointment--but apparently neither are you called when you miss it!)  So who knew?!  My premonition was correct and I made French Guy tell the receptionist that I was RIGHT... and had suggested we confirm the appointment before going!

 So there are now a few ways a day that started this way can go.  You can get really irritated that you missed an important appointment that was made six months ago.... or you can carry on and make the best of the situation.  Now if you know me, I am not a 'make-lemonade' girl.  I wish I was!  I have tried to be for y-e-a-r-s.  But now at forty-phfoof..... I am certain some things about me will not change.  So everything that happened today after the missed appointment was not me making the proverbial lemonade from the unwanted lemon--it was purely serendipity....

Meant to be.

That's what I felt as we left the office.  For whatever reason, we were not meant to be at that appointment--and even though we had to reschedule a few more months out--I felt okay about it. So instead of heading home.....

 As we were in a shopping-mecca.... we went to get shoes for Petite Fille who is growing like a little weed ... one pair for a wedding this weekend, and a 'play-pair'.  Of course---she is my daughter, so shopping for shoes makes her very happy!  Not only that--the shoes were more than 50% off--- and that makes me really happy! (and French Guy too!)

After shoe-shopping went to check out a HUGE bio-marche,  (organic supermarket).  Now I know most of you probably have a Whole Foods or Central Market, Mollie Stones or even Trader Joes.... where we live it is hard to find anything more than a very small, very 'cher' organic shop---nothing like a super-market.  So going to this one was a treat.  I almost took pictures (read-- almost fell to my knees weeping) that finally we had found a big store like this---and only a hour from home!  Maybe life if France is actually okay!  {wink}.

Now the day is really coming together ---  Lunch at an Indian restaurant that my friend had recommended.  We arrive to the place and as we approach and look in the windows we see (insert cringe) WHITE linen tablecloths and wine glasses.  Yikes!  Did I mention that we have the 20 month old Princess with us... who as much as we would love, is not 'fine-dinning' trained just yet?  But it had taken us 20 minutes to park..... so we thought we would give it a shot.  And......?  Not only was the food divine.... Petite Fille was an angel!  Not one glass overturned, not one linen stained.... she sat contently eating while watching Elmo videos on Daddy's I-Phone.......while we ate the absolute BEST Indian food we have ever had.....and we haven't had Indian food since we moved to France..... talk about bliss!

 What next?!?  Really!  Well I will just say a quick stop to pick up a skirt 'pour moi' for the wedding this weekend--walked in the store, found my size instantly and it was on sale too! (So I could also afford the little sweater too!  Shhhhh!)

And the ride home after the missed-appointment-made-six-months-ago-that-was-yesterday-and-should-have-been-confirmed-but-wasn't-morning......?  Did I mention that while driving back home the guy IN-FRONT of us was pulled over for speeding?  We were right behind, probably also going a bit too fast--and he got pulled over--right in front of us as we passed a 'control' spot.

And the rest of the quiet ride home?  Petite Fille slept.... and we talked some more, and pulled the car over to take a picture of this.....

A dream house...A 'maison de rêve'........ Because on a serendipitous day like this, when everything seems to be working out just fine... or better than fine....

 

ser·en·dip·i·ty/ˌserənˈdipitē/

Noun:

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: "a fortunate stroke of serendipity".

.....one just never knows!

 A bientot mes amis!  

Wishing you a serendipitous day!