I'd argue that serendipity also adds a bit of spice to one's life. "What is serendipity?" I hear you cry. The dictionary definition of serendipity is "the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way". For example, your bicycle is stolen and you're not sure how you can afford to buy a new one. By chance, you meet your next-door neighbour who is having a bit of a clear out and doesn't know what to do with an old bicycle. When the neighbour hears of your misfortune, you are given the old bike free of charge.
Ever since we had to study a work by Swiss novelist and playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt at school for German A level, I've very much been a fan of 'chance' or 'coincidence' (a major theme in Dürrenmatt's work), and serendipity is basically based on happy coincidences.
As you may know, I loathe the new German public library in town. So much so that I am considering not renewing my membership of it. Instead, I thought I might give the 'Bücherschränke' a chance to provide me with books.
Yesterday, after running a few errands in town, I passed by the glass cabinet closest to my flat and thought I'd take a peek inside. Imagine to my delight finding books by two authors I like to read: a 2021 book by Donna Leon (an Inspector Brunetti book naturally) and a 2002 book from Ingrid Noll (who basically always writes about women killing men and - this is the best bit - getting away with it). And both books were in great condition. As new practically!
As yesterday was a public holiday in this part of Germany, I took great pleasure in spending the afternoon and evening on the sofa, reading both books one after the other.
Serendipity really can give one great pleasure.
I had to check this word from dictionary "Serendepity". May have heard / read it earlier, but its meaning had slipped from my mind. - Ingrid Noll is a good writer, and the books I have read by her, have been full of black humour, which I very much appreciated. / M.
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