View Profile
View Forum Posts
View Forum Threads
Show All Albums
Private Message
View Friends
an open letter to Mr King about pancreatic cancer, coincidences, and bolobouncers
Mr. King,
I am writing to share what I find to be a very strange "coincidence" that occurred while reading Ayana from Just After Sunset. It was weird enough to make me stop reading and write this letter.
First I'd like to explain that I don't really believe is coincidences, I think it is just word we put on things that are too big or weird to fit in our brains. My family and friends would agree that I am the type of person who seems to be open to noticing coincidences, big and small. I have been a reader of your work for most of my reading life. I can't say I am your number one fan or even a constant reader. I have read a lot of what you have written and enjoyed it all. It always leaves me thinking.
I seem to notice a lot more coincidences in your books. For example, someone mentioned the other day "...it's like bringing coal to New Castle" the other day, I had never heard of this saying, I then open the book I am reading and you reference it there. Simple but weird. I have dozens of examples. Just yesterday I joked with a co-worker that it is happening so much while reading Just After Sunset that I felt you were writing to me not just for me and that I was tempted to write to you to share these coincidences. Then something happened this morning that made me actually write you, not just joke about it.
My Father was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer about two week ago. I had started reading Just after Sunset around that time. I picked it up the other day and started reading Ayana. I obviously found it weird that the narrator's father was dying of pancreatic cancer ( that's what I was sharing with my co- worker).
We've been trying to find activities to keep my father as physically active as possible while his mobility is impaired. About a week ago while in a pharmacy I saw a modern-day, plastic, Disney's Cars theme version of what I call a "paddle ball" . My father was always really good with the paddle ball and I thought at least it would get his arms moving. I bought it and brought it home to him. My father, being the handy-man he has always been, began plans to replicate the plastic paddle with wood, like the good old paddle balls. Being too weak to use his power tools, he recruited my brother to do that part of the job. Yesterday he proudly shared his finished product with me.
This morning I was again reading Ayana and came to the part after the young girl had visited Doc and his son was back at the hotel room having received a call from the nurse. He was expecting to hear he had died and started reminiscing about the fact that his dad had taught him how to use a Bolo-Bouncer. As I often do when I am reading and come across something I don't recognize I Google it. I flipped when I saw a Bolo-Bouncer pop up on the screen. I immediately called my mother and told her what had happened and instructed that if a little black girl came to the door to definitely let her in to kiss Dad.
I wish there was a more direct way to share this connection with you. I am glad to have the opportunity to post this here.
This one was too big to fit in my brain. I thought it was appropriate to reach out to the source of this "coincidence" .
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks