When it comes to surprises, I love when something completely blows me away and changes how I see myself, who I am, and my worldview.

It’s never something I can predict, and whatever I have known up until that time changes forever – a turnaround that alters my mindset, beliefs and prejudices.

Take, for example, machinists.

I met one at a dance class.

Donald was one of several crew members who volunteered helping the owner-teacher of CEROC Canada with her two weekly modern jive classes.

He had worked for over 22 years at UBC, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, teaching students how to make their inventions and supporting PhD research.

What he built and modified – robotics, medical probes, motors, anechoic chambers – were another world to me.

So, being the intellectual knowledge worker (snob) that I was, I had never dated a blue-collar technician.

What I found was a gentle, loving and responsible man caring for his two 90-year old parents, both with dementia, in his childhood home. 

He had refused to abandon these two people who had had him late, had cared for him extensively, and had done so with great determination during his challenging and sickly first 17 years. 

With some trepidation (what would Miriam think?), he brought me home.

His mom was tickled for him and within months left this earth happy.

His dad couldn’t get over Donald’s unexpected find.

After selling the house, two of the three other siblings took their dad to live with them until his death, and Donald, at 48, moved out.

A year later I moved in with him and Jackie, his male cat.

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The Unexpected

In the last 4½ years, I surprised myself at least three times.

First, I said yes to going out for coffee with Donald, and I’m so grateful that I stayed long enough to see who he was. 

Second, I surprised myself by welcoming love at 56.

And finally, the deep love I felt for our cat Jackie was completely unexpected. He nestled into my soul as if I’d known him forever.

You see, I had never even noticed animals before. As our connection grew, I couldn’t recognize myself. Suddenly every animal cracked me open.

Last summer Jackie, fiercely loved, died of cancer at 16. Magically, during the most distressing grieving for Jackie, we rescued 2½ year old Simon 10 days later.

Though Simon likes Donald better (who wouldn’t?), most days I’m okay with that.

And just to surprise you, Donald comes with me to C.G. Jung Society lectures and almost never falls asleep. If he does, you can be assured that I am nodding off, too.

Over To You

Is there something in your life that if you were to do it today would turn life as you know it on its head?

What would truly blow your mind or even mildly surprise you?

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© Miriam Linderman 2015

Bottom photo credit: Orin Zebest / Foter / CC BY