I started reading the Dark Tower series in 2009, possibly mid as I think I was reading The Drawing of the Three on holiday in the September (this has just reminded me of another coincidence- these sorts of things happen to me with startling regularity but I have never attached any significance to them. For another time mayhap...) and when I get my teeth into something I don't tend to let go until the end. So it is likely that I'd finished the series by the time of the little story described below, but for some reason, despite the weirdness, I didn't think of the Dark Tower.
I have recently been listening to them ( "...this audio book is presented to you by audible.com la la la le la la la...") and they have helped me through a very difficult time - ta very much Stephen King et al - and this time, perhaps because one picks up on different aspects of the story when listening as opposed to reading, the role of coincidence stood out more and caused me to reflect on my own experiences. Here is one...
My brothers birth date is the 19/1/1991 (1/19/1991). I wasn't able to see him in person on his 19th birthday for some reason and I ended up at my boyfriends for a drink and cards. We played Chinese patience, a form of solitaire for two people. For those who haven't played this is roughly how it is done: When you lay down the cards it is similar to when you are playing on your own but there are no hidden cards just four face up to start with and the rest split between the two players. You take it in turns and only turn one card over at a time as opposed to the customary three. When it is your turn, you keep playing until you can no longer lay down. The last card goes on your waste pile face up. As part of your go, you can place matching suits and runs on your opponents waste pile, the winner being the one who gets rid of their cards first.
In one game over a couple of goes, during this particular evening, I pulled out all the ones and all the nines as a 1 with a 9 straight after. Like I say it was not a case of 19191919 all in a row but I pulled all eight cards out my self and when I did the one was immediately superseded by the nine in each case.
Does this strike a cord with anyone else?
I have recently been listening to them ( "...this audio book is presented to you by audible.com la la la le la la la...") and they have helped me through a very difficult time - ta very much Stephen King et al - and this time, perhaps because one picks up on different aspects of the story when listening as opposed to reading, the role of coincidence stood out more and caused me to reflect on my own experiences. Here is one...
My brothers birth date is the 19/1/1991 (1/19/1991). I wasn't able to see him in person on his 19th birthday for some reason and I ended up at my boyfriends for a drink and cards. We played Chinese patience, a form of solitaire for two people. For those who haven't played this is roughly how it is done: When you lay down the cards it is similar to when you are playing on your own but there are no hidden cards just four face up to start with and the rest split between the two players. You take it in turns and only turn one card over at a time as opposed to the customary three. When it is your turn, you keep playing until you can no longer lay down. The last card goes on your waste pile face up. As part of your go, you can place matching suits and runs on your opponents waste pile, the winner being the one who gets rid of their cards first.
In one game over a couple of goes, during this particular evening, I pulled out all the ones and all the nines as a 1 with a 9 straight after. Like I say it was not a case of 19191919 all in a row but I pulled all eight cards out my self and when I did the one was immediately superseded by the nine in each case.
Does this strike a cord with anyone else?
