Meanwhile, in the soup aisle…


I think we can now breathe a nice sigh of relief. All together now:

Ah!

The world didn’t end yesterday, which is good news in itself, but I’ve been reliably informed by internet sources that there aren’t any further predictions for the end of the world that are due any time soon.

There may be one or two forecast for the next century or so, but we are OK for the immediate future.

A bizarre occurrence took place when I was shopping in Sainsbury’s yesterday (other supermarkets are available). Well, I say bizarre, but the chances are quite high that it would have happened, and still high that it will happen again, but it was odd just the same.

I was in an aisle, looking at the tins of soup. Pondering between tomato and pea and ham, and throwing chicken and mushroom and vegetable into the mix for good measure, when I suddenly noticed that I was no longer alone in the aisle.

Two other people were there at the same time as me.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Very often when I’m in the supermarket, there are other people in the aisle with me, and I don’t bat an eyelid, but these two made sure that I did.

One was an old work colleague of mine from a job years ago, and the other was a current work colleague. They didn’t know each other (at least they didn’t appear to) so I was the link between the three of us.

Something caused two of my worlds to collide in that moment in the soup aisle, past and present. Fate had drawn the three of us together, at that precise time, all looking for soup. The supermarket was packed with other shoppers (all presumably getting their last minute bits in before the end of the world), but only the three of us were in that soup aisle at that precise time.

We all just said ‘Hi’ and then got on with our shopping (well, each of them to me, and me to them, but not them to each other as they were complete strangers) and that was it. The meeting of times was over.

I hadn’t seen either of them in the shop before stepping into the aisle, and I didn’t see either of them again after, and I trudged up and down every aisle available. Took me ages, that shop did.

Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but moments in time like this always leave me feeling a little awestruck.

It was obviously a right time right place moment. And, instead of choosing one flavour soup, I put all four into the trolley. And I also picked carrot and coriander and potato and leek for good measure. Well, they were on offer, six for £4.00.

I wonder if anyone else noticed any peculiar events yesterday? Particularly involving the folding of time, perhaps?

Considering it should have been the end of the world yesterday, it was a pretty quiet day otherwise, all things considered.

26 responses to “Meanwhile, in the soup aisle…”

  1. Andra Watkins avatar

    I love how worlds sometimes collide. 🙂

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Random as it happens, Andra, so do I!

      Like

  2. Diane Henders avatar

    Wow, what a bizarre coincidence! Good choice on the soups, by the way… 🙂

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Diane, I thought so! I do like my coincidences, you know!

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  3. CMStewart avatar

    Folding of time? Hmm . . I made soup yesterday, and added carrots, celery, onions, and mushrooms. I could’ve been slicing a mushroom at the same time you were selecting a can of mushroom soup. And I could’ve been chopping a carrot at the same time you were carting a can of carrot soup. Or maybe not, considering you live on the opposite side of the world from me. Or so I surmise. But it’s a freaky coincidence nonetheless, eh? 😉

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      We could have been doing our respective things not exactly at the same moment, CM, but at the same time of day. Still coincidental though… I’d agree!

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  4. prenin avatar

    Nothing happened here Tom, even less than usual in fact! 🙂

    Sounds like you could win the lottery by coincidence!!! 🙂

    God Bless!

    Prenin.

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Now that I’d like to see, Prenin!

      Like

  5. susan sheldon nolen avatar

    aren’t you glad we are done for the year! No more doom and gloom!

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Very relieved, Susan. Until the next one!

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      1. susan sheldon nolen avatar

        I’ll let you know when it’s coming! If I don’t..you know I was too late! 🙂

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        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          Well, thanks for trying anyway, Susan! 😀

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  6. penpusherpen avatar

    well, (had to retype that word ‘cos I missed to ‘w’ off) Sir Aquatom, but then ‘twould have felt like ‘ell’ a meeting of souls, in t’soup aisle, strange and spooky wise… Six for £4.00? The way I feel about soup at the mo, would’ve been all Tomato (With Basil, without Basil, Coriander, and suchlike!!) Seem I can’t eat/drink it, I search the cupboards for something to eat and… soup Urk!! You’d’ve thought it was warming, soothing, hot sorta thing. but for some reason I’m orf it!! I know, what’s that got to do with the price of anything? Well, if ‘n the end of the World was back on again, I betchya soup would be all that was left.. ah well, small price for me ‘n my post-apocalyptic suit!! xPenx

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Here’s hoping for an abundance of tomatoey soups, Pen, just in case!

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      1. penpusherpen avatar

        OMG not a caseful? 😉 I’d turn red and have a green topknot!!

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        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          Not a FULL caseful, Lady P… I wonder though, if too much sweetcorn turns you yellow, would too much tomato soup turn you red? And would you go orange if you mixed the two? Hmmm…

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  7. Visionkeeper avatar

    Ah TL…. Gotta come at it through the spiritual lens…That was the old paradigm and the new meeting up….The new was reminding you to let the old go and move on. The choosing of the soup tins was your choosing to stay in the old or going with the new. Hope you made the right decision 🙂 Blessings…VK

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Now that’s a good way of looking at it, VK… I think my choice was a good one!

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  8. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

    Nope. Nothing to report here. It was Sunday quiet as usual. No shopping either. 🙂

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      At least the quiet provides balance in the world, Tess!

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  9. Jo Bryant avatar

    I am shocked…you don’t make your own soup. Yes Tom…that is what I got from this post…oh and that you still live…with the rest of us

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I did once, Jo. It was awful. Too much garlic…
      I kind of live with the rest of you, I’d have to say, most of the time anyway!

      Like

      1. Jo Bryant avatar
  10. The Laughing Housewife avatar

    How odd! I love this kind of story.

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    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I find them fascinating, Tilly.

      Like

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