Sally's Harmonica
Sally’s Harmonica
The first time I recognized synchronicity. That “low” moment in life when we question who we are and what we’re meant to be. That’s where I was…
I left the house and headed to the southside. I didn’t exactly know where I would go, but knew I needed to be on a sunny patio surrounded by people. As I drove towards the restaurant, I missed a turn, and ended up sitting at a stop sign. As I scrambled for phone directions, I glanced to the left and saw this ordinary, little, red brick warehouse. No windows, no description, just “The Chat Room” written on the outside.
My first reaction was to grab my phone and just look it up. Instead, I put the phone down, turned left and parked in the lot, reminding myself how fun it is to simply walk in without knowing, without expectation.
As I approached the patio, a woman looked me straight in the eyes and said, “You’re beautiful.” Only, in this moment, I knew she was complimenting my spirit, my light. She wasn’t speaking of my outer appearance. She was referencing my soul.
She invited me inside where I saw a woman sitting I a cloud of smoke. With her rhinestone ball cap, bleach blonde hair and cigarette leathered skin, Sally was my invitation to the bar.
We started chatting music, then proceeded to the jukebox where we played Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” As we sang along, I unexpectedly said to Sally, “I wanna learn to play the harmonica.” As with most of my ideas, they come in an instant and they persist until spoken. I didn’t even know I care about the harmonica until that very moment! Ha and I certainly never told anyone I wanted to play.
As the words rolled off my tongue, Sally, ash dripping cigarette in hand, whipped her head to me and said, in her smokers voice, “Are you shittin’ me?” She continued, “I’ve got a harmonica in the back seat of my car right now.” Taking another drag from the cigarette, “Danny gave it to me for backin’ outta a gig I booked him last week.” Smoking again… “He also said it’ll help with my COPD.”
Now. It’s NOW that I’m realizing I’m supposed to be here, and… it’s not by chance.
Each person in that room, shared with me an unlikely story, paralleling a current struggle of my own. It’s as if those people were waiting there, in that moment, for me. I mean, what are the chances??
Reluctantly, Jen showed up at The Chat Room when I convinced her to come in and stay for a bit, to meet my new friends. Music, beer and an hour later, we said our goodbyes and left.
As we pulled out of the parking lot, Jen, reached into her purse and handed me a harmonica. Sally’s harmonica! She said, “Sally wanted me to give this to you, but she knew you wouldn’t take it, so, here, she wants you to have it.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I shared a soulful, thank you.
That day. Those people. Sally’s Harmonica.
There are no coincidences.
P (to the H)