God like coincidences

5 minute war break

“People are entirely to disbelieving of coincidence.”—Isaac Asimov

October 21, 1960

Today I am another day older and deeper in debt, and I don’t care. I am living the most amazing life. In the most amazing time in human history. I have seen things humans aren’t supposed to see. I’ve heard things humans aren’t supposed to hear, and to make that even better I’ve captured it. I have the pictures, video and audio. I can look, watch, or listen daily at any time should I ever feel self-pity. I’ve heard this voice a thousand times say, “Mike what you are looking at is real. Mike what you are hearing is real.” I doubted that voice in the early days. I don’t doubt it anymore. Each experience seems to outdo the previous in terms of believability. I don’t believe I’m unique or special in any way.

On Pacific Ave in Moclips Washington is an old house. It was built around 1902. It is the only house that survived the back-to-back century storms in 1911 and 1913.

Prior to the first storm Moclips was a vacation resort. A train running from Minnesota regularly dropped off passengers who believed bathing in the Pacific Ocean water brought them youth and vigor. The two storms washed the town away except the barber shop house. The barber shop house survived and what a beauty it is today. My favorite house in Moclips. I’ve been coming to Moclips for twenty-five years and I’ve never seen anyone there. I’ve never seen a car parked there.

About five years ago I met a local man on the beach. We became friends and whenever I’m coming into town, I email him, and we’ll hook up for a chat. The condo unit I rent he owns one a few doors down. He sent me a text yesterday and said he was stopping by for a chat. During our chat a question kept popping into my head, “ask him if he’s ever seen anyone at the barber house.” The topics were jumping from Covid, to health, to life and just when there was a break my wife would jump in and the topics would once again take off. Finally, I just interjected, “Al, have you ever seen anyone at the barber house?” He shook his head. A resident here for 27 years and he’s never seen anyone there. He walks his dog two or three times a day down the street and he’s never seen anyone there.

That evening my wife and I went out on a walk and when I got to the barber house I stopped dead in my tracks. Someone is there.

From the picture you can see I didn’t even wait to get in front of the house. I was shocked. Al will not believe this. There it is all that’s left of the two century storms and the owners are there. I wanted to go up and knock on the door, but we strolled past in disbelief. A God like coincidence just happened and I pay special attention to those.

We walked down the block and, on our return, I noticed the front door was ajar. “We get to look in,” I excitedly said to my wife. Just then a woman walks out onto the porch. My wife takes the lead. “We love your home.” The owner seemed quite surprised to hear that. “We’ve walked past it for 25 years and love the history behind your house,” my wife continued. The owner seemed surprised we knew the house history. Her husband came out and I immediately asked them if they are interested in selling it. They laughed and told me they’ve owned it since 1985 and then another God like moment happened. He invited us in. I immediately bolted for the door while attempting to unlace my boots. The owner told me no need to remove your shoes we have the original hardwood floors and they’re impossible to harm. He then proved it.

The door leads right into the kitchen. There steak dinners were sitting on the table. It’s small perhaps 8’ by 8’.

The floor still has the marking where the barber chair sat.

A small bedroom is off the kitchen with a bathroom and that is all. Below the living quarters is a basement used for storage.

A barber pole sits at the entrance of the bedroom. Not the original.

I once again asked if they’d be interested in selling their home. They told me that they’re getting up there in age and don’t get down as much as they use to, but they’re not interested. They showed me a picture that was drawn of the house in 1930 and then showed me a picture of the family when they bought it in 1985.

We must have been in their home for at least 30 minutes, and they made no attempt to rush us out and get back to their dinner. Incredibly gracious people. Before I left I had to ask, “any ghosts?” This was my God like coincidence, my God like moment one day before my 62nd birthday.

I took one more photo before we left.

Let it Roll