Coincidence and Synchronicities

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Comment by Colin George Garvie on November 12, 2010 at 12:17am

A very welcome to those who have recently joined the Group. Feel free to share your stories or add a Discussion Topic. Please contribute to the discussions.

Earlier this year my daughter's father-in-law shared two incidents that I thought were quite astonishing. Johan is a keen vintage and classic car collector here in South Africa.

He says one of his collection of something like 24 old cars is an Austin Westminster he bought for R1000 in Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg. He restored the derelict old car that hadn’t been driven for years. Some years later he drove it down to the Pietermaritzburg Car Show, a distance of about 500Km. On the way they decided to detour off to Howick to get something to eat and drink. While they were sitting in the coffee shop he noticed an old but very dignified little old lady come out of a shop and hobble over to the car. She was clearly deeply moved examining it and touching it tenderly. She then put her head on folded arms on the bonnet and sobbed. Johan went out and asked if he could help. But she was too distraught so he left her. He returned to finish his coffee and some ten minutes later they went out and the lady was still there. She then had gathered herself and told them that this car used to be their car. Her husband had bought it for their wedding in Botswana. It still had the original Botswana number plate on! She then returned to her place and asked them to wait. She returned with their wedding album and photos of the car. They had driven the car virtually all their life. When they couldn’t drive anymore their son in Roosevelt Park took the car away from them and just left it in his garden. What an amazing story. What made Johan decide on that trip to detour into Howick and stop at that place for refreshments? What made the old lady spot and recognise their old Westminster? How come the chance rendezvous just at that moment?

Another story he told was of two of their Car Club members in Johannesburg. They had both been members getting together in the same club for something like 17 years but never really met. After one meeting the two men happened to be drinking beers together. Introducing themselves they discovered they were both Hardys. The one had a photo of his parents in his wallet, took it out and showed the other who said nothing. When they met again the other had with him the exact same photo! They were step-brothers and never knew it!

- Johan Meyer, related to Colin G Garvie, 18th May 2010, Durban

Comment by Glenn Roy Browne on October 1, 2009 at 9:24am

After reading the most recents posts I was reminded of a number of events that have occured to me but it is difficult to label them coincidence or intuition.
It involved having a problem I was unable to solve. Some times it related to friends, family or job. I would go to bed at night with the problem going around and around in me head. When I awoke in the morning I suddenly realized I had the answer to the problem. I never realy felt the idea was mine. Where ever it came from, I appreciated it.

Comment by Colin George Garvie on September 2, 2009 at 11:54pm

Actually not, Glenn, but I believe it is an amazing book. I must read it. Thanks for the reminder!

Comment by Glenn Roy Browne on September 2, 2009 at 8:05pm

I see you have read The Discoverers by Daniel J. Boorstin. A very interesting book.