India Journal: The People That You Meet

India Journal is back and this week, I am particularly excited to share one of my favorite memories.

If you have taken one of my classes or workshops you have probably heard this story, and if you are someone who hates making decisions you may find some meaning in it.

One evening, after I had been in India for a few weeks, a new friend, Anita was sharing the events of her day, including that earlier in the day she had encountered an elderly Italian man.  Later, walking along a passageway toward my room something caught my eye.  Nearing the door, I realized someone had written a name in black magic marker on the door frame. It was strange enough to see writing on the wall, but when I saw the name that was written, I was floored.   I was standing with my mouth agape when a gray haired gentleman exited the room and smiled.  He turned to lock his door, and with his back to me said, “Ciao, signorina, sei Italiana? /Hello miss, are you Italian?”  As he shifted his attention from the door to me, I quickly glanced up and I nodded my head.  He smiled, offered me his arm and asked me to walk with him to dinner.  I took his arm and we slowly shuffled forward.  I asked him where he was from and in traditional form, he revealed what I already knew, bit by bit. Italy…Puglia…Bari, and quite matter of fact, Palo del Colle.

Pascuale Centrone’s Business Card

Palo del Colle is a town of approximately 20,000 people in southern Italy.  And while I have never been to there, both of my maternal great grandparents called Palo home.

Oronzo and Benedetta Savino

and to make matters more interesting, the name the man had written on his door frame is my maternal grandparents last name, Centrone.

Sylvester and Nicoletta (Savino) Centrone

While I was quite stunned, somehow this coincidence did not seem to phase my dinner companion in the least! He told me about Palo and stories about my grandfather, uncles and cousins.  And while only had a few hours together before his left Rishikesh, I felt a profound sense of peace and satisfaction at the calm, crazy synchronicity of such a random possibility.  I had traveled from New York to this place in India, meeting a distant relative from Italy who now lived in South America!

It isn’t always as clear as black magic marker on a wall, however, wherever we find ourselves, opening our eyes we can see the signs that all paths hold a few secrets, some answers and unexpected surprises to help us along the way.

In the words of Paolo Coelho from The Alchemist,

…when you want something, all the universe conspires

in helping you to achieve it.

That evening, I walked into town after dinner, found a phone in the back of a shop and called my maternal grandmother, Nicoletta (Savino) Centrone.  When she answered the phone, she was quite surprised to hear from me.  I was beaming when I said, “Gram, sit down, I have a story for you!”.