Three (Is A Magic Number)

Just wanted to add a follow-up to my last post. 

Apparently these things work in threes!

I went for my weekly electrolysis appointment tonight. As soon as M opened the door, it was clear that she couldn't wait to talk with me.

"Do you remember what happened after last week's session?" she asked, before I'd even had a chance to settle in.

I nodded.

"I do," I said. "Why?"

***

I'm typically M's last client on Tuesday evenings, partly because I have a long commute from work and partly because we like to chat once we finish. We spoke for an unusually long time after last week's session, and once we said our goodbyes, I decided to stop for gas. 

I usually go to a particular station that is actually a bit out of my way to get home. A family bought the station from the previous owners and completely restored it. Their prices are competitive, and they are, to a person, exceptionally nice and helpful. My father and brother bring all of their cars there for any work that is needed, as do I. (They don't know we're related, however.)

I pulled up last Tuesday night and struck up my usual conversation with the brother who was on duty that night, chatting about the end of the NHL strike, what the Red Sox are up to, and, as always, how his family is doing.

Just as I was about to depart, a car pulled up on the other side. A moment later, the driver beeped the horn, so I glanced over.

It was M, my electrologist.

We laughed and made the usual comments about great minds, what a small world, and so on. 

As I was leaving, I joked that he could just add M's fill-up to my tab, which made him laugh. (I pay cash every time.) I waved goodbye and headed home, promptly forgetting the entire exchange.

Until now.

***

"That sounds about right," I said, nodding. "Any reason why you remember it?"

She was smiling broadly.

"After you left," she said, "He began to fill my tank, then came over to me."

"So you two know each other, huh?" he asked, gesturing to my car as it drove away.

"Yes, we do," she said. "Why do you ask?"

"She's one of my family's favorite customers!" he said. "She's super-polite, really friendly, and she always asks me about my wife and our new baby. And my brothers say she's the same way with them. We all think she's a sweetheart!"

I was astounded. 

"Are you *sure* he was talking about me?" I asked. "Maybe he meant someone else?"

She laughed.

"Cass, you were the only one there besides me! Of *course* he was talking about you!

"Haven't I been telling you that you're much further along than you think you are?"

It would certainly seem as if the universe is intent on sending a message that even yours truly (a/k/a Captain Oblivious, per my friend C) can't help but notice... :c)

***

Even as a child, I found this deceptively simple song packed to be quite moving:

I *still* adore Schoolhouse Rock. And it seems I'm not the only one, either:

I still adore *this* album, too...