I used to go to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Wednesdays often. But then I got very busy and have not been back in at least two or three years.

But last week I put in my planner that I wanted to try and work it into my schedule again.

It's one of the better Farmer's Markets in this area, always filled with tons of people. Mothers with children, teenagers, businessmen(and women), elderly men and women, couples and tourists. All kinds of different people speaking, sometimes, languages other than English.

There are a variety of vendors. Some with produce like delicious red juicy tomatoes that cannot be found in any traditional markets and that have a flavor you can taste! In the summer some vendors bring in from the San Joaquin Valley, twenty different kinds of incredible tasting peaches all summer long. There are the most beautiful flowers that are about half as cheap as they are in the local flower shops. There is one vendor that would bring in countless varieties of delicious tasting goat cheese.

There were vegetable and fruit stands, fresh squeezed juices, tempting fresh baked goods, baskets, spa items, handmade items.........The streets that were closed off just on Wednesdays between 10:00 A.M and approximately 3:00 p.m. were always filled with wonderful things, aromatic smells, and packed with people. It really was a joyous place for me to visit. I would so look forward to my trip to Santa Monica on Wednesdays.

Yesterday was hot and I was tired. When I had finished most of my work, I realized I did not want to venture out again. Luigi called me around 2:30.
"Are you all right?" he asked
"Yes,Why are you asking Me?"
"There was a terrible accident at the Farmer's Market"

When I hung up the phone, I called my Mom. But she was not at home. My sister called from Oregon after seeing the accident on T.V News.
"Where's Mom? I can't reach her."
Both my sister and I could not reach my Mom that whole afrternoon. According to my sister, my Uncle Willi was coming up from Oceanside with my little cousin to visit my Mom. He loves Santa Monica.

By 6:00 that evening my father had called the S.M Police. My mother was not on the injured list. But they could not give him information on those that had been killed.

An elderly man driving a full size car, had plowed through the barricades of the outdoor market at 60 miles an hour. Someone on the news said it looked like a war zone. About 40 people were injured, some critically, and eight had died.

My Mom finally called me at 7:00 pm and had just found out about the news. She explained to me that at 1:00 Willi wanted to go to Santa Monica to the Market.
"I don't know why" she explained, "I really love going to Santa Monica, but for some reason I told your uncle I didn't want to and so we decided to go to the Marina instead."

I questioned my Mom why she had made that decision, but she could not give me an answer. All she said to me was "Someone is protecting us."

I called my Dad to let him know and thanked him for getting the info for me. I told him the story about how she had changed her mind. My Dad knows my Mom very well. "Did she say that God spoke to her?" he asked

My parents are quite different from each other in the 'spiritual' sense. Obviously my Mom is very spiritual and my Dad is 'Political'. Let's just leave it at that. Maybe I am somewhere in between. Call it whatever you want; fate, providence, luck, God, whatever. I am grateful for both my Mom and I that we chose not to shop yesterday, at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market.