What are the odds?
My new friend Dave and I are standing at the end of Dave and Sally’s lot on my last full day at Outdoor Resorts in Long Key, Florida. We are looking down the street and Dave asks if I had met their neighbors, Deb and Laura, across the street. I tell him I hadn’t, and he says I will have to come back next winter to meet them.
“They just left. They have been staying on that nice big lot right there on the water since we bought this lot ten years ago. You’ll have to have them tell you the story about last year when they had a 5th wheel delivered to them. It was quite an ordeal to get it out of there when it was time to leave.”
Fast forward ten days to when I pull into site 171 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville, Florida, my last campground before home. I needed a couple of days to be by myself to ride and write, mostly to write. As I backed into my new spot, two women sat outside watching me and asked where I had come from.
“Well, technically from the Keys, but it took me ten days to get here. I made stops in the Everglades, West Palm Beach, Merritt Island, and Daytona to visit friends on my way home.”
“Where in the Keys?”
“Halfway between Key Largo and Key West.”
“Like Long Key . . . Marathon … that area?”
“Exactly like Long Key. Yes!”
“Ever heard of Outdoor Resorts?”
“No way! That’s exactly where I just came from! Planned to be there for four weeks, but ended up staying six. Didn’t want to leave. Great people! Have you been there or something?”
“I’ve been going there since the 70’s, but we didn’t make it there this year. We have friends coming over here in about 30 minutes who just came from there. Do you know Deb and Laura?”
“Are you serious? Do you know Dave and Sally? They just told me the day before I left that I needed to meet Deb and Laura. They’re coming over here?”
“Yes. They are coming over for dinner.”
So, I go for a ride around the park. When I return, I introduce myself to my neighbors Sally and Sharon, as well as their friends Deb and Laura, who had just arrived from the Keys. These women met at Outdoor Resorts ten years ago and have been friends ever since. We talk until dark.
In the morning, Deb suggests taking the ferry over St. Johns River and riding my bike to another camper park over there. Instead of writing all afternoon, I spend the day exploring, enjoying dinner with my new friends at a Thai restaurant, and finishing with a walk to the lake for the sunset.
The morning we were to leave, we exchanged phone numbers, and they were excited to follow my blog and keep in touch.
Beginning with the story about getting their fifth wheel off their lot, I know my new friends have hundreds of travel stories to tell me—stories I would never get to hear if I had not met Ray in Rhode Island who invited me to Outdoor Resorts, where I connected with Dave and Sally. What are the odds? If you ask me why I haven’t finished my book Finding Joy, I will say it’s because I’m always out there finding joy.
Or in this case: finding Sally and Sharon . . . and Deb and Laura.
May 9, 2024 @ 1:35 pm
Such a small world!
May 9, 2024 @ 8:35 pm
Isn’t it though!? Yet, in my small town I can go years and years without seeing friends and acquaintances around town. Kind of weird how that works.
May 9, 2024 @ 3:23 pm
Seriously!!!!! What are the odds?! What a great story! Also about your SMILE blog…I am there with you Joy! Just yesterday a young lady loaded my car up with groceries at the Kroger pick up. I’ve had her a few other times. Her name is JOY!!! Yes!! You heard that right! Joy. And just like you she wears a smile proudly, making people’s days a bit lighter! I told her how much her smile meant to me. I hope that made her day because it certainly made mine!
May 9, 2024 @ 8:41 pm
Oh, Cheryl what a great story! I hope I run into Joy next time I go to Kroger. When I meet her I will tell her your story. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for making our world a happier place with your smile.
May 9, 2024 @ 5:58 pm
Small world!
Btw the person on the far left is the spitting image of my mom when she was young.
May 9, 2024 @ 8:39 pm
It sure is!
That’s Laura on the far left. I’d love to compare pictures if you can find one of your mom sometime. That’s crazy!
May 9, 2024 @ 8:51 pm
So that’s Laura on the far left, Deb in the middle, me on the right, Sharon on the top left and Sally on the top right.
May 10, 2024 @ 9:36 am
Great story and crazy coincidences! Love Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park! Good memories there
May 10, 2024 @ 10:09 pm
Isn’t it though?! I mean, what are the odds? Ha!
Yes. You telling me about that park was in my first draft because it was yet another piece of the story, but I had to cut about half the words to keep it short enough for people to read in an evening. Smile. Thanks for your comments.
May 10, 2024 @ 3:27 pm
This is a great story about coincidence and God’s plan. We never know what connections God has planned for us. Sometimes it takes years for it to come full circle, and us see the connection. What are the odds of you visiting a campground in Jax. FL in the 70’s and meeting friends there. Why that park, right?
We just have to keep our eyes, ears, and heart open to the purpose God has in our lives. You are a great listener, and I am so glad you are making friends and creating realationships all throughout your travels.
May 10, 2024 @ 10:13 pm
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is Silver and the other is Gold. Remember that song? I know I am blessed with more friends than anyone deserves. Thanks for being one of those forever friends.
May 10, 2024 @ 3:40 pm
No wonder you don’t come home to much! You are meeting so many people that you have things in common with on the road camping. Keep it up, and keep finding joy!
May 10, 2024 @ 10:15 pm
Yes! And when I connect with people, then I have to go visit them, which spurs another trip and another and . . .
May 11, 2024 @ 3:38 pm
Joy, I love reading about your adventures! Keep on keeping on and sharing, my friend!
May 11, 2024 @ 7:30 pm
Thanks, Lonnita! Thanks for your encouragement and thanks for reading!
May 11, 2024 @ 8:12 pm
Figure the odds! Leave it to you! You find & spread JOY wherever you land! Deb & Laura look vaguely familiar.
May 13, 2024 @ 12:00 am
I know! I have so many stories about how one chance meeting leads to another. Yes. You probably have seen them around. They are as friendly as you, so you may have even spoken to them here and there.
Thanks for reading and commenting cuz.
May 14, 2024 @ 4:30 pm
Love reading your stories, Joy! They make me smile!! Looking forward to seeing you in person shortly too!!
May 15, 2024 @ 1:08 am
Thanks, Julia. Always a pleasure to see you. Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my stories. You are a blessing to so many.
May 15, 2024 @ 10:09 pm
I enjoy reading your Blogs, Joy. Maybe You can come to Adairsville to visit your former co-workers someday. You would have a very interesting Blog!
May 19, 2024 @ 12:51 am
Funny you should say that, Mattie. I’m planning to return to AES Monday for field day and to AHS for graduation on Tuesday. It’s always fun to see people I haven’t seen in a while. You never know, maybe a blog will be born out of one of those visits.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Your support means a lot to me.
May 23, 2024 @ 6:50 pm
PS Mattie, I wrote about seeing everyone at field day and graduation. I’d love to see you and your family again and so many other families who go back 36 years with me.