Life's Serendipities
December 5, 2011 * * * * * Posted by: Ginnie 
ser·en·dip·i·ty (s
r
n-d
p
-t
) n. pl. ser·en·dip·i·ties
Two years ago today (though it was a Saturday then), I moved to the Netherlands from America to begin a new life with the Dutch woman I married two months later. It was totally coincidental that the day I arrived was Sinterklaasdag. We didn't plan it that way. But every year since then, Astrid and I will celebrate this day as our biggest and best gift to each other.
That's serendipity. And, YES, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!
I have always loved serendipitous moments. They may be more rare than "normal," but maybe that's what makes them so "fortunate" and "by accident."
This past September, when we spent a few days in England with friends (and met CherryPie, remember?), we had another serendipitous moment that still drops my jaw to the ground. As we strolled by the Royal Crescent in Bath, I looked up to see the entablature above the columns and stopped dead in my tracks.
There they were, just as plain as day. From the entire length of the Crescent, a row of 30 houses with entablatures above, these were the two we just happened to see: a heart (Hart) and a windmill side-by-side. In Bath, England, of all places.
That's serendipity.
Of all the gifts I've ever received in my lifetime, these rank up there at the top. They "just happened" by accident. Most fortunate because they didn't cost a cent and I'll never forget them!
If you believe in Santa Claus, I'm sure you have your own serendipitous memories. Feel free to share them here...and then store them up as the gifts that can never be lost or taken away from you.
And let's keep our eyes open. You never know when a "by accident" is just waiting to happen!
Bath, England, Netherlands, Royal Crescent, Sinterklaasdag, heart, windmill
Reader Comments (25)
':) I believe in Sinterklaas'; when I say that, people always look at me like I lost my marbles. 'That day Ginnie arrived in Holland' and then they 'get' it.
I worked with a company for 7 days (Job-Agency) before I was able to get another job at the woodmill, my (then) boss told me, if it would not work out with the woodmill, to let him know. It took 2,5 years before I wrote him an e-mail and withing 4 hours I had the job, last week, being only for 11 months with the company via the Job-Agengy), they hired me and gave me a two years contract.
The H(e)art and the Windmill....... hart in Dutch is heart in English.... I just love it.
Happy Anniversary. (we celebrate every special day to us)
The three ages of man. You believe in Santa Claus, you don't believe in Santa Claus, you are Santa Claus. I was in my Grotto yesterday!
Your trip here this year was one i know you enjoyed and we loved seeing you both. I hope we will see you again before too long
Lovely story for a lovely time of year. It's strange how Christmas can be spread out over such a long time. In Holland you have Sinterklaasdag on 5th Dec. In Spain they have Kings Day on 6th January, which is the gift giving day, reserving 24th Dec as a religious day. I know other countries have other dates. But its all good from the children's point of view, because they often get two lots of gifts, thanks to the American (and English) influence that you mention.
You and Astrid enjoy your serendipitous day and memories. We hope to see you next time you come to England.
When you believe, and when you pay attention, wonderful things surface! A beautiful celebration-anniversary.
Astrid and I will celebrate this day as our biggest and best gift to each other. --> Keep that up and keep that feeling
Yes, this a real serendipity that you have just found the metopes Heart and Windmill side by side among the more than hundred symbols of this Doric frieze. And the similarity of your name Hart and the Dutch word 'hart' meaning 'heart' is another serendipity- and the meeting itself of you both via SC is the loveliest and most blissful serendipity -yes, our life is full of such seredipities, 'Zufällen' that are falling to us/uns zufallen because we are ready to accept and recieve them in our mind and heart or soul!
I myself photographed a heart and an arrow when I saw the Circus frieze (I think it might be the Circus ) -yes, these Georgian buidings in Bath belong zu the most beautiful ones I ever saw- and I love the warm toning of the Bathian stone- you captured this warm toning in a wonderful way and I could look at this photo for some time!
First of all, Happy Anniversary to both of you! Such a great story you wrote here, Ginnie! Thanks for sharing :)
Serendipity... What a wonderful word. I believe people who are open to serendipitous moments will discover more of them than those who are too busy and stressed to pay attention to what is going on around them! And you certainly have an open heart and such joy in discovering the beauty in the world around you that I'm sure your future will include many more serendipitous moments.
One such moment comes to mind for me... In 1990 it was the 100 year anniversary of Van Gogh's death and the Dutch were having several special exhibitions in his honor. From the time I first saw some of his paintings in an art history book (in high school), I've been a huge fan of his art. The serendipity for me was that I received an unexpectedly large income tax refund, my Dutch friend Pieter who was at NIH at that time was going home to visit his then live-in girlfriend who was not able to be in The US with him, I had leave and decided on the spur of the moment to spend my refund on a trip to the Netherlands. The serndipity continued in that the flight I was able to get on fairly short notice was out of Boston and there was a Monet exhibittion there that I wanted to see so I took a night train to Boston to arrive the morning of my flight to Amsterdam and spent the day visiting the Monet exhibition and the Boston aquarium. While I was inn Amsterdam, the weather was unseasonably warm with mostly clear skies AND the Queen's birthday celebration happened... More serendipity. And the last bit was being able to take a night train to Paris mid-week during my stay in Amsterdam so I could spend the day (after breakfast and a shower at a friend's flat) visiting the Musee D'Orsey (sp?), the Orangerie and even the Louvre for a very brief look before realizing I was too pooped to enjoy it. Then dinner with that same friend before hopping on the night train back to Amsterdam! Well... I certainly have gone on and on this morning.
Happy Anniversary of your arrival in the Netherlands. Best wishes for a great day and another marvelous year ahead for you and Astrid! (65 to answer the question you asked on Facebook). :-)
I just love your attitude, Ginnie! So happy. So positive. Savoring each moment, sign, event with passion. Happy anniversary.
Hey Ginnie, I love these kind of moments and I love how you and Astrid share your love and joy ~ what a special day!
What a wonderful post. I believe that serendipity is in all of our lives if we are watching for those little "accidents".
Happy Anniversary. Or is it "Gelukkige Verjaardag"? (Always dicey because I got several translations. I hope I'm not telling you to comb your hair or something totally crazy!)
i feel like i am late to the party, but i know this is a celebration that really has no end. sharing the love with blog readers gives us all a heartfelt pause no matter what we are doing or thinking. thank you for getting us all in a giddy-in-love holiday mood!!!!
ho-ho-merry-and-latke delish ahead!
I at times think since my thought of travels and Switzerland then quitting my job and finding a job offer a few days later was definitely ser·en·dip·i·ty . I think coming to Canada and meeting P was also just that. I love DEC 5th and wish that they had it here in Canada too. I guess the time can live on later with Cammie.. For one thing though, fate, we are so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter. And last night we were rocked from our beds with a drunk driver who nearly crashed into our house. First thought, CAMMIE! Luckily the dummy plowed into the pole and then into an apartment building across the street. It still jolted me badly for hrs and still this morning. I'm just taking every minute with our precious Cammie that much more today. The driver was lucky he walked away from the scene.... Gives new meaning to "accident" If I don't say so myself...And how we must enjoy every moment we have with each other!
Ginnie, happy anniversary to you and Astrid. What a beautiful day you've chosen. We have "Nikolaustag" in Germany on the 6th, and my daughter still puts her boot in front of the door and haven't you seen, it's filled in the morning with sweets and fuzzy socks... So Nikolaus/Sinterklaas/Santa Claus luckily has everything under control!
It was serendipity that brought us to the US - one little sentence spoken at 2 o'clock in the morning, and an avalanche started to roll...
Serendipity has always been one of my favorite words. I love that you have these great memories of such wonderful, serendipitous gifts!
Sometimes, you just have to believe...
If this is not a serendipity moment, than I do not know what is!! This is an amazing find Ginnie, It was meant to be. One of my favourite films is called Serendipity and stars John Cussack, all about signs and fate, comedy romance. Mine and Steves paths crossed a lot when we were growing up, but it took a while before we met lol. Congratulations to you both :-) Happy Sinterklaasdag :-)
Happy anniversary. And a beautiful date for it. Great find, een hart en een molen.
In Bath, of all places. Some day I will be at a meetup and meet you both in person but I think I know you enough to recognize your special serendipity. We SCrs almost feel part of it.
Ginnie, first, what a great shot...to have caught the exact part of the facade...there are NO accidents! Second, I love the word serendipity...serendipitous....happenstance....coincidence...There are no mistakes either Ginnie....what a perfect moment in time for you and how lovely you could share it with us!!
I love the fact that you arrived in the Netherlands on that day, what a co-incidence (my word for serendipity) ;-) But of course there is no such thing as a co-incidence, everything happens for a reason. We just have to look out for them (the co-incidences) and understand them for what they are. They happen to me quite a lot...
I particularly love this:
There they were, just as plain as day. From the entire length of the Crescent, a row of 30 houses with entablatures above, these were the two we just happened to see: a heart (Hart) and a windmill side-by-side. In Bath, England, of all places.
It speaks to me, everything happens for a reason :-)
Happy belated anniversary! I hope you had a great day!
First of all, best wishes to you and Astrid. I've delighted in following your story, and expect to be following it for a good many more years.
As for serendipity - did you know the word itself is grounded in a Persian fairy tale called "The Three Princes of Serendip"? Or that one of the most useful scientific discoveries of all time was grounded in serendipity? In fact, the "case of the floppy-eared rabbits" is taught in schools as an example of serendipity!
Yes, of course I wrote about it, and you can find it here. There's even a good bit about Horace Walpole and his great "pile" outside London!
Serendipity is one of the great wonders of the world. I suspect we'd experience it more often, if we were more attentive and curious!
that is one of my most favourite words :) - and the name of the first (and only) album by a very cool chick arusha folk band, 'dust angels'.... we all loved the name serendipity.
and ....if i get this right.....a quote by favourite author mark helprin (frantic bit of googling going on....)
..........
..........
All great discoveries are products as much of doubt as of certainty, and the two in opposition clear the air for marvellous accidents.
Happy (belated) Santa and Anniversary wishes to you! I love stories of serendipity and have a pretty neat one of my own, but upon thinking about it, I might just save it for a VV post down the track - if you don't mind :-)
There are no 'accidents' - everything happens at the right time at the right place, I believe. I'm happy for you that you 'noticed' these right moments...
I have plenty on my mind..., hard to find only one. One of them happened in USA... I was lost while searching for a gospel concert 'somewhere'. A nice man asked me what I was looking for. I told him. He said he's going there too and he asked me if I had a ticket. Not yet, I said. He said he had one and gave it to me for free! :) Anyway, at the concert we were invited to join the choir. I did! And singing at that choir for a few weeks led me to another gospel project with a big choir, directed by Natalie Cole's music director, who was awesome! That's just a part of 'my story' as it went on and on - one thing led to another and that one led to another one.
Life is beautiful, that's all I can say!!