Sometimes there is a happening so strange it belongs in the realm of a coincidence, but even more, such as in the realm of a fluke or a twist of fate.

5:03 a.m. and 5:03 p.m.

A few months ago my outdoors column was finished in the early morning hours of Wednesday, the day it was due, and submitted at 5:03 a.m.

My wife, Garnet, and I then headed for Spokane to attend an Air Force event and to visit friends in Post Falls. We headed home in the late afternoon, traveling between Sprague and Ritzville at about 4:45 p.m.

The sports editor called my cell phone and I answered using my ear bud.

"Dennis, I haven't received your column," he said

"It was sent early this morning," I said.

"Well I don't have it."

"I will stop at Ritzville and resend it," I said.

Thank goodness my computer and mobile hotspot were in the backseat. My e-mail was brought online and the sent file was checked. There was the e-mail I sent in the early morning.

The forward button was used, so he would see the column was, indeed, sent earlier in the day. The e-mail was readied, the send button pushed and the sent message appeared. The time: 5:03 p.m.

Now this may not seem to be such an interesting happening, but it would have been difficult to hit the same time 12 hours later if I would have tried. Hitting the same time by happenstance was truly remarkable.

A Pioneer's Ballad

In one of the Bits & Pieces columns a few months ago, the person telling the story of the Lindblad family story mention, "Frank Lindblad just published his book of poems.

This particular column was submitted on a Thursday for Friday publication. Harold Boyer called me on Thursday evening.

"Dennis, I just found an interesting book of poems in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Library, thought you might like to see it," Harold said.

Harold had no idea the same book would be mentioned in the column the next day. The readers of this column will benefit, as we will feature the poems and photos contained between the front and back covers of the book from time to time.

Just think about this...What interesting coincidence to have Harold call and offer the book on the day the mention of the book was submitted to the CBH and on the day before actual publication.

The book was published in 1961. The entire title is "A pioneer's Ballad of Days Before Grand Coulee Dam." Written inside the cover is, "Presented to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Library by the family of Frank W. Lindblad, September 1981."