Today, I want to talk about divine timing and unexpected blessings.
I’ve been dating a wonderful man, Forrest, from Vermont for the past 2 ½ years. On paper, our relationship seems improbable: we live 1,000 miles apart, have a 16-year age gap, he’s retired with no kids, and I’m still running a business and raising a teenager!
It’s a wild story how we met…originally in 2005 at a party in Asheville when we were both married…then reconnected in the summer of 2022 over FaceTime and a plumbing issue. (Yes, really!)
[image: whale tails]
[Read the full meet-cute here.]
We officially began dating in January 2023, taking turns visiting each other every couple of months. Those visits were romantic and nourishing and included long walks, deep talks, cozy movies, bookstore wanderings, and time away from everyday responsibilities.
If you’re looking for great travel ideas, here are a few of our favorite spots:
• Sandwich Glass Museum, Cape Cod, MA
• Frank Lloyd Wright Houses, Manchester, NH
• Whiteside Mountain Trail, Highlands, NC
• Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
• Museum of Illusions, Charlotte, NC
• The Breakers, Newport, RI
• Greystone Inn, Lake Toxaway, NC
But it hasn’t always been easy. We’ve broken up twice—distance, age, and different life paths made things complicated.
Then in February, after three months apart, Forrest told me he was willing to move to North Carolina so we could build a life together. Cue the happy tears!
So now, we’re figuring it out. He spent much of the winter and spring in North Carolina, and this summer, I’ll spend several weeks in Vermont. We’ll still have time apart, and that’s OK—it’s how we started.
Why am I sharing all this with you?
To remind you that sometimes, magic unfolds when you least expect it. Even if it’s not on your vision board.
As a teen, I kept a journal full of inspirational quotes. One of my favorites was:
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
—Popularized by John Lennon, originally by Allen Saunders
Our story is a perfect example of that. When we reconnected, Forrest had just moved into what he assumed would be his “forever alone” house. And I was newly divorced, not remotely looking for someone 1,000 miles away and certainly not someone 16 years older who never raised kids.
But here we are.
And it’s wonderful.
And bigger than both of us.
We keep thanking Carl Jung.
What synchronicities have left you gobsmacked with wonder? Comment and tell me—I’d love to hear your story.