with the day’s sudden onset of a 7 minute mini white-out, a few slick portions appeared on the local roads. soon after this winter-tease display tossed out by mother nature, i happened to encounter one of these slick spots firsthand. it was on a little bridge leading back from the library towards my cottage.
‘black ice’ is a phenomenon known to those in the northern climates – innocent looking, shiny, invisible, traction-less, and extraordinarily slippery. this was the day that black ice and i crossed paths on the bridge, and as i tried to brake, my car continued to move forward, and i slammed smack into the car stopped right in front of me.
after the crash, we drove ahead and popped out of our cars to assess the damage. i was happily surprised to find that we were both fine, and that our cars had somehow each suffered nothing more than a scratch on our bumpers.
the extraordinary surprise came when i soon realized that i had smashed into one of the happiest, friendliest, people on the planet. he was smiling, and kind, and calm, said he was happy nothing bad had happened, he understood why it happened, and that it had happened to him before. i apologized profusely and he shook his head telling me not worry about it at all.
he gave me his card, and as we talked, i found that we both work with young children. he, working with children in the foster care system, pursuing a masters in social work to continue helping in that field, and me, with my kinders, trying to teach them about life. he told me to keep in touch, that we may be able to help the children in some way, or who knows? it was just like crashing into santa claus in his sleigh. and with a jolly chuckle and a wave goodbye, we were both off on our way once again, and felt somehow better for having met.
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The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances – Aristotle
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
Glad you are okay, and that karma seems to have smiled upon you. 🙂
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thanks austin, and i think that it did )
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He probably felt the same way when he met you!
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wonder what his version of our meeting is today?
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you were lucky to escape without injury and with so little damage to your car
P.S. do I sense the start of a beautiful friendship/romance here ? 😆
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thank you duncan, i thought so too and who knows?
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keeping my fingers crossed for you 😆
let us know how you get on – if it works for you, I might try this approach myself (I’m not having much luck meeting women any other way) 😦
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i’ll keep you posted duncan and maybe try using the actual bumper cars, it’s safer )
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Well written! (Love the nostalgic poster as well!!! :))
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thank you )
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Glad you are safe.
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thanks david and best of all, i have met a new friend )
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Making Chicken Soup out of…
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black ice? )
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how this has made me smile – firstly that you are ok, that the cars in question don’t need costly repairs and that you may have met… well let us hope…. 🙂 Christmas has arrived early this year it seems – do keep us posted .:-) xxx
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thanks jen and will do )
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Glad both you and he were fine. Who knows? Maybe you bumped into him for a reason?
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thanks andra, and hmmmmm….
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Great story…serendipitous???
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thanks sue, and perhaps…
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Oh, I know black ice very well! It’s crazy how seemingly bad circumstances can lead to really meaningful encounters if you’re open to them.
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so true, aussa )
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Sometimes, an “uh-oh” moment has a way of transforming into something beautiful, doesn’t it ;-)? Who knows, maybe Providence has a bigger plan in the works for you two! Glad all turned out well in the situation. Beautiful quote from Aristotle.
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thanks whimsy )
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Ugh, a crash. But how choice! I’ve never gotten on so breezy with someone after a crash!
Love the Aristotle quote. So so well said.
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yes, it was a happy surprise )
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I’ve also heard in the Adelaide Hills a phenomenon called ‘black frost’ where all the affected vegetation is burnt black instead of the far more common white frost
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wow, i’ve never heard of that, john. how interesting –
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What a nice story out of a bad situation! I live in Massachusetts, so I’m all too familiar with black ice. It’s the worst! Glad to hear you’re okay and you met such a nice person 🙂 He really does sound like the modern Santa of today!
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thanks caitlin – stay warm )
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I love meeting nice people. So glad there are some left in the world.
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me too carrie )
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Life is like that sometimes, on the outset of something quite alarming we think the day has taken a swan dive and then suddenly out of the blue there is a refreshing edge to it 🙂 I am pleased that your mishap turned into something wonderful my sweet friend 🙂 🙂
Andro xxxx
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ty andro )
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🙂 😉 🙂
You’re welcome my dear 🙂
Andro xxxx
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Glad you and your car came out unscathed. Amazing coincidence at your meeting someone so likeable and in the same field. Cue spooky music?
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thank you and it was quite an amazing coincidence )
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A great story Beth! We need more people like that in the world.
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that we do
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