Have you ever met anyone who has a special energy or magnetism?

If you have, then you know what I am talking about.

Bernadette is one of those unique, special individuals.

She is an incredibly kind and positive person.  She will always see a glass as half full.

Over the years that I have known and traveled with Bernadette………..

…………I have seen life unfold around her in the superlative.

She has had unique experiences and “happenings” throughout her life…

……………..here’s one quick example……

Bernadette was in the Peter Pan diner with her mother one day, years ago.

Her mother asked if she had ever bought a lottery ticket.

She hadn’t……………………so they both decided to.

Her Mom was teasing her when they were filling out their respective cards, because Bernadette put down “one” for one of her number choices…………..her Mom said that no one ever picks the number one………..

Well, Bernadette got all number right (but one) in her first ever lottery pick and she proceeded to win almost $14,000.00.

Conversely, once she dropped off her favorite necklace at a jewelers to have the clasp repaired……………the jeweler was robbed…………….poof went her favorite necklace which she had purchased with her first tennis tournament prize money………………

…………I liked that necklace…

~~~~~~~~~Having set the stage, here’s another unique Bernadette happening that she just recently shared with me…

************During one of our tournament visits to Guaruja, Brasil (there should be an accent there somewhere-but I don’t know how to add it)———we returned yet again to our “regular” hotel and tournament site……………the Casa Grande Hotel.

*****Casa Grande Hotel, Guaruja, Brasil*****

It rained a lot at that time year, so the tournament was usually functioning under rain-delays and always playing catch-up with the schedule.

As a result, my hours were long and I was always working on site…….

I missed this one, unfortunately.

Apparently Bernadette had run into a Brazilian man while on the beach (which was just across the road) while waiting for her postponed match.

This man introduced himself to her as Edson “Something-0r-Other” and invited her to watch a seniors (40 year olds) futbol (soccer) game on the beach……………..which she did…

Later at the club, this same gentleman was there getting a massage.

Bernadette and Edson passed one another by the pool and he said hello again and thanked her for coming to watch the game.

The Brazilian tennis player, who Bernadette was with, later said she was surprised that Bernadette knew Pele!!!…………………..

Bernadette had no idea.

Pele had introduced himself with his given name of Edson Arantes do Nascimento and not his soccer moniker of the world famous Pele…………(I wish Paolo, my husband, had been visiting during that tournament———he would have flat out fainted!)

*****Pele*****

*****Map of Santos & Guaruja***** 

Pele played for Santos, which is just around the corner and up the beach from Guaruja.

Small world………

……………but see what I mean about Bernadette?…