It was to be a memorable weekend of fun, a relaxing drive through California’s wine country, Napa Valley. We loaded 240 people on five buses for a day trip through Northern California. Four buses left the hotel. My staff and three other colleagues stayed behind to board bus number 5; we waited a little longer for any stragglers who may have overslept. Finally the last two people showed up, grabbed their boxed breakfast and went on the bus. A total of 35 people including the driver, Vince, was on Bus number 5.

We left the hotel and headed on the freeway. Just as we approached the entrance to the city, we felt a thug as if someone had hit the bus. I was sitting up front close to Vince. I leaned over and asked Vince if someone hit us. His eyes were already glancing around as he also wondered what was going on. In his side view mirror, he detected that we had a flat tire, so he said he was going to pull over. He slowly and carefully moved over to the far right lane. Then in a few seconds, he said, “Oh dear, there is fire by the tire. We need to get everyone quickly off the bus.” He managed to pull off at an exit and stopped under a bypass. I shouted to everyone to get off the bus now. My colleagues and myself quickly moved everyone as far away from the bus as possible. As the last person exited, the back of the bus burst into flames. Within seconds the entire bus was engulfed with fire. Blazing flames and thick black smoke were seen rising above the bypass.

Everything happened within a very short time. If Vince had not acted quickly in moving the bus off the highway and getting all of us off the bus in time, it could have been a devastating day and lives could have been lost.

Angels were on bus number 5. A few people lost personal property, but overall everyone came away unscarred. We thank God for Vince and for his discernment, and we thank God for saving each of the 35 lives that day.

Last week I visited the Home Depot store. I love Home Depot. Every time I go there I can’t help but think of what new ideas to incorporate in my home. If I had the money and the time, the house would be remodeled and decorated new everyday. But on this day I had a specific purpose in mind… on a mission for floor tiles. Roaming through the flooring section, a sales person approached me and asked if he could help. I noticed a scattering of titles that were discounted, but they didn’t have enough of one color, pattern or size. The sales associate wanted to know if I had someone to install the tiles. I told him “sort of.” As a cost-saving factor, a friend of mine was going to teach me how to install tile. Well, “Mr. Sales Associate” decided to educate me on tile installation. Without asking for his advice he rambled off a doctoral thesis on what to do, including precise examples of the different tools and their purpose, gout colors, mud, etc, etc. I interrupted him and said he forgot to give me the textbook to read before hand or at least something I could follow along during the presentation. This didn’t stop him; he kept on going and going and going, like an energizer bunny. I glanced at the time and it was more than 30 minutes of loquaciousness and nothing I would remember. Finally, I informed him it was time for me to leave; my visit was not suppose to be this long. He wanted to know if I was available on the weekend to attend a tile installation class he teaches at Home Depot.  I told to him weekends were bad for me. I go to church. He looked at me a little strange, and in an appealing and soft voice he said, “Jesus can wait.” At that moment I knew it was time to leave. I thanked him for his offer.

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For those of you who may have had broken hearts, don’t blame him or her. Just remember that people come into your life for a specific purpose and once that purpose is fulfilled, there is no reason for them to stay around, at least that’s how God sees it. Feel free to disagree, but I am of the opinion that nothing happens by chance, and not all relationships are meant to be permanent. Here are two examples in my life that supports this conclusion.

I was very close to my father. The older I got the more I loved him.  He no longer viewed me as a nuisance, but now a competent, intelligent and capable adult whose mind challenged him to see things through different perspectives.  We would spend hours on the phone debating the issues of the day, discussing my life, and his redundant questions of “Why did you not pursue a business degree?” and “Are you sure you can support yourself living alone?” I always came back to the same answer, “Dad, I love what I do and I will be alright.”

Towards the end of 1996, Dad decided to relocate to Jamaica. He phoned me to discuss his financial matters and sort out his business issues here in the states. I hated to see him go, but now the shoe was on the other foot. He was going to be alone. So, being the “parent-daughter” I decided to tease him with questions about his singleness, and all those men-hungry women he would encounter, after all he was now a single 76-year old man living alone. It was only a matter of time before a floozy flashing her skirt tail would get his attention. So, it was my job to counsel him. He laughed and thought it was funny.

In May of 1996, I met a young man, Donald, a very handsome, debonair man. Read More…

My car runs on automatic pilot. It is programmed for work, church and the airport. So when the “check engine” light came on recently, it was a matter of concern because it hardly goes anywhere. With just under 84,000 miles it has been a well-behaved child for the past five years.

We first met in November of 2003, when my old faithful Saturn died. I was in the market for a new car and wanted to try a different automobile. A guy at work who has a “doctorate in car knowledge” convinced me that a Subaru Forester was the way to go. He had just purchased his after extensive research on the make and model. I was attracted to the car because it had a manual option (stick shift)- not an automatic; and only skilled drivers drive manual cars:) So, being a “skilled driver” I gravitated with keen interest to his “professorship.” I took the car for a test drive and loved it. I was sold!

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There are some people who enter your life and become a permanent fixture on your heart. One of those people is affectionately known as “Skede.” While this blog is about chance encounters, I would like to deviate a bit and pay special tribute to a dear member of my family. 

I met Skede was I was 10 years old. She was the grandmother of one of my friends, Audrey. Skede was everybody’s grandmother. She took many of us into her heart, loved us, cared for us and prayed for us. When I would visit her home, there was always an invitation to eat a meal. She had a tea for every ailment, and makes the best-fried fish you ever want to eat. I loved listening to her stories of life and her encouragement. On my visits back home during college days, it was always such a delight to see Skede. She would make sure she told me she was praying for me. She LOVED young people and only wished the best for them. From the newborn babies to the teenagers, to the overgrown adults, no one was immune from her love. 

A few months ago, I hosted a dinner for my girlfriend Audrey’s birthday. It was good to see Skede again and to spend time with her.  I could tell she was getting up in age and was not her old self. She had difficulty remembering faces, but that was o.k. She was entitled to it; after all, she was now 95 years young. She lived a good life, a blessed life. I believe God put her on this earth to inspire, influence, and love people… many people who needed love. 

Skede is now gone, she passed away last week at age 96.  I will never forget her smile, her warm affectionate hugs, and the way she would squeeze my hand when she saw me.  She will be greatly missed.