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Serendipity: A Bank Teller’s Tale

had I woken with that headache 
then I would have stayed in bed
but because I felt much better
I got up for work instead.

had I got there any later
then it would have been my loss
as I would have missed arriving 
at the same time as my boss.

had my boss not turned to ask me
if I'd help him out that day
I'd have missed out serving people
at a bank two miles away.

had I sat behind that counter
any later than I showed
I'd have never counted takings
from the sports hall down the road.

had that customer not mentioned 
playing football on that night
my leg would not have broken
taking one year to put right.

because I went to hospital
(on that day that changed my life)
I met a nurse while on the ward
- and she became my wife!

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Mark Toney Date: 12/18/2024 11:20:00 AM Thank you for supporting my Flash Poetry Challenge, Gary. I love this! You caught a break playing football, leading to your meeting your future wife, and the fact that it's a true story knocks it out of the park for me! (I love trying to mix metaphors.) This is an absolute FAV for me. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/18/2024 1:37:00 PM Thanks again Mark for your time in running these challenges. They make such a refreshing change from the contests. I'm surprised more Soupers don't join in. Cheers - Gary

Peter Rees Date: 10/5/2022 5:16:00 AM What.if … ? What if… ? Yes, that’s life. Another story succinctly told, Gary. I really could relate to this, so many possible paths, but which with the magic touch of serendipity ? Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 10/5/2022 5:55:00 AM Serendipidous moments tend to happen in life when you are doing something unrelated or you do something by accident don't they? Yes. So many possible paths. The first verse talks about a headache I had. What would have happened had it remained and I had stayed in bed that morning? The mind and poetry possibilities boggle. Cheers - Gary

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/27/2022 7:38:00 AM I love love love this. Going back through all the events that led up to that MAIN event. You are a very lucky man, and this is a FAVE Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/27/2022 10:48:00 AM Thanks Andrea! I'll have a further read of your poems in the next few days. Cheers - Gary

John Watt Date: 2/22/2022 11:12:00 PM Gary, this is a delightful romantic take on the butterfly effect, poetically rendered with your signature impeccable cadence (which I guess you know by now makes me smile). I suppose you can call that football injury your lucky break, lol. I think you and I are of similar vintage, my wife and I married in 1984. Great write, going in my faves ~ John Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 2/23/2022 2:04:00 AM Hi John! Yes, although it didn't feel like it at the time it did turn out to be a lucky break. :) I was working for a bank in the early 80s and absolutely detested the work but enjoyed the wages it paid. I left the bank after I married and went to train as a nurse. It's funny, weird and wonderful how life can turn. Thanks for the fav. Cheers - Gary

Gershon Wolf Date: 2/16/2022 8:33:00 PM Getting going is usually the better alternative. :) gw Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 2/17/2022 12:51:00 AM Well I got going and left the bank (my place of work at the time) soon after I recovered and never looked back. :) Thanks for reading. Cheers - Gary

Margarita Lillico Date: 1/31/2022 1:17:00 AM Those turns:) Great read! M. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/31/2022 11:51:00 AM Hi M! Yes, those turns..those fortuitous, wonderful turns that have resulted in 34 years of very happy marriage. Thank you for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Valerie Staton Date: 1/30/2022 7:35:00 AM What a wonderful poem...a chain of events leading to love!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem this morning. Take care and God bless you and those you adore. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/30/2022 8:36:00 AM Thank you Valerie. I'm glad you enjoyed the read. Have a wonderful day! Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick Date: 1/27/2022 3:13:00 AM Interesting chain of events in a day of your life. So many times, in a busy person's life if one event had not happened first thing in the morning the day would have gone so differently. Your visit to my page was uplifting. Sara Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/27/2022 10:32:00 AM Hi Sara..likewise your visit here is always uplifting. :) Thank you! I suppose I could have written a few more verses regarding how I got my headache from the day before. :) Cheers - Gary

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 1/26/2022 3:57:00 AM Ah, some things are just meant to be, glad you met your love of your life there, nice story : Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/26/2022 2:31:00 PM Thank you Mystic. It's funny how things work out sometimes. Thanks for your visit. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck Date: 1/24/2022 3:54:00 PM Oh, that's so sweet. Serendipity or destiny ~ who knows. At any rate, worth a broken leg :) Congratulations on your win! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/25/2022 1:14:00 AM Thanks Ann. Yes, it was a lucky break :) The broken leg actually afforded me plenty of time to think and rethink my life at that time. I was off work for over a year from my job in the bank (a job I detested) and applied soon after for my nurse training which I absolutely loved. Cheers - Gary

Deb M Date: 1/23/2022 10:52:00 AM Aww….that’s so lovely Gary and so cleverly written! Debx Login to Reply Deb M Date: 1/23/2022 1:14:00 PM Horror tackle alright to do that damage….how awful Gary! Debx Gary Radice Date: 1/23/2022 10:57:00 AM Thanks Deb. It seemed my life just changed so much for the better on that day despite the four operations and me nearly losing my leg due to a horror tackle on astroturf. A lucky break I guess :) Cheers - Gary

L Milton Hankins Date: 1/23/2022 9:49:00 AM Splendid writing, Gary, again! You've taken the "If I Had Not" theme way back and followed it through to a marvelous, unexpected conclusion story-wise. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You are a gifted poet, Gary! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/23/2022 10:48:00 AM Thanks Milt. I'm still not 100% happy with the flow so there may well be a couple of minor changes on the way but as it stands it's as near to the truth from that day as possible. Cheers - Gary

Paulette Calasibetta Date: 1/23/2022 8:33:00 AM Gary, one never knows~happenstances of fate are around every corner! Great write! :) Paulette Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/23/2022 10:51:00 AM I couldn't agree more Paulette. I was wanting to leave my work at the bank at the time this all happened. It acted as a catalyst and I went on to do my nurse training a short time after. ..oh, and I married Ann in Feb '87 too :) Cheers - Gary

David Kavanagh Date: 1/23/2022 7:09:00 AM Heya Gary, You have just serendipitously put a brilliant poem to a monoku I wrote the other day (All’s well that ends well) about life being arbitrary, check it out if you get a chance, I only explain the action, you bring it to life, cheers David Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/23/2022 10:54:00 AM Thanks David! I've just checked out your great monoku and left a comment. I've been toying with writing a poem like this for some time. I published a similar poem last year but took it down almost straightaway as it didn't make any sense..A bit my like my life before all this happened actually :) Cheers - Gary