It just so happens that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826, which just happened to be Independence Day. It also just happened to be the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which just happened to be the document that Jefferson authored, and also just happened to be the document over which their famous rivalry began. Bitter adversaries for years, they later became devoted pen pals, but to the end, Adams had declared, “I will outlive Jefferson!” even though Tom was seven years younger than he. On his deathbed, however, Adams seemed comforted when he said, in what are alleged to be his last words, “Jefferson survives!”
Jefferson had not survived, however.
Unbeknownst to Adams, his loyal rival had died a few hours earlier, so that Adams’ original prediction did, indeed, come true.There are enough coincidences in that story to choke a Colonial mule.
I love coincidences. . .synchronicities(which are “meaningful coincidences,” according to Carl Jung). . .intriguing juxtapositions of events. . .coinkydinks, whatever you want to call them. Of course, many can be explained away, or theorized away, but where’s the fun in that?! Jeez, we can’t be expected to live in the reality-based community ALL the time, because for one thing, it takes way too long to say.
So, my little coinkydinkums, got any cool stories of coincidences to tell? You do? Wow, what a coinkydink!
The hostess has to go to Topeka (no, no, don’t hate me because I’m lucky), so the cafe is all yours in her absence. Do not behave yourselves. Please use the poll to tell her how you would have liked her to respond to your comments if she were here:
