Serendipity can be defined as an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident or simply as luck or good fortune. The TPC3 joined forces due to one serendipitous text message eight months ago and serendipity continues to play a strong role in their success.
Their second major public appearance since the launch of SELLOUT was slated to be the inaugural Atlanta Black Book Expo (ABBE). Heading into the ABBE it didn’t look like it was meant to be, as James had a family emergency just days before the August 7th event. Omar remained on stand-by waiting to hear back from James and Steph as to whether they would still be participating or not.
Plans to reunite in Atlanta on August 5th were postponed as James flew home from Florida that morning, and Steph, being the ride or die, stand-by-her man woman that she is, embarked on an epic thirteen hour road-trip north from Florida to Maryland, that took her a little too close to a tropical storm that had descended over Virginia. On the morning of August 6th, Omar awoke to a text message stating that Steph and James would be driving back down to Atlanta that morning. The ABBE was back on.
You should know, loyal readers, that Omar is habitually nearly missing flights. That Friday was no exception. He left work later than he wanted to and made it to his gate a mere thirty minutes before scheduled take-off only to learn that his flight had been delayed an hour. Relieved, Omar headed to the Continental Presidents lounge for a drink and a comfortable spot to continue working. When he emerged from the lounge at 6:15 pm, he got back to the gate just in time to see his plane pushing back! Luckily, Omar was serendipitously awarded the last seat on the also delayed last flight to the ATL. Back to the lounge for him.
Omar’s flight, delayed from 8:00 pm until 11:15 pm, took off at 11:45 pm. Landing in Atlanta at 1:15 am, he texted Steph and James to see where they were. Once again, serendipitously they had just pulled off the highway very near the airport, so they swung by and scooped him up. What are the odds that a 13 hour car drive coincides with a missed flight, a last seat, and a three hour delay!
The lucky streak continued the following day as the TPC3 ended up stationed right behind the DJ booth and sound board. Radio personality Marcel from http://www.wmarfm.com was broadcasting live and became clearly intrigued by SELLOUT and James, eventually offering him a nationally broadcast interview!
TPC3 @ ABBE
And just like at the book’s launch during the Black Writer’s Reunion and Conference, nearly everyone who stopped by the booth left with an autographed copy of SELLOUT and a smile. The TPC3 treated themselves to a much-deserved steak dinner and called it an early night. The next day was James’ first in-person encounter with the Urban Divas Book Club who had made SELLOUT their August book club selection.
James would need to be on point for his close-up…
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