One Hot Day in Fair Oaks, CA
Some moments aren’t planned—they just happen perfectly.
It was one of those hot Fair Oaks afternoons where everything feels a little slower—except the traffic on Sunrise Blvd. The sun was blazing, cars rumbled past, and life moved on in its usual rhythm. I pulled into the ARCO on Winding Way and Sunrise—just another quick stop, nothing special.
I set the pump and leaned back against my car, letting the sounds and smells of the gas station fade into the background. The faint scent of gasoline, distant conversation, and the soft ding of the convenience store door all blurred together.
And then—across the pump—I saw him.
My son.
We both did a double-take, eyes widening, followed by that unmistakable grin that says, “Wait… is this really happening?”
Without a word, I wrapped him in a big, tight hug, my heart doing a happy little cartwheel.
He laughed. “I didn’t even notice you until I got to the pump. That’s wild.”
“I’m so glad I got to see you,” I smiled back, still stunned at the timing.
We caught up for a few minutes, standing there like two perfectly-timed extras in each other’s day. And as we said goodbye and went our separate ways, I looked around at the gas station—the cars, the people, the hum of everyday life—and thought:
“I love this small town.”
That unexpected meet-up reminded me how magical life can be—how sometimes, the ordinary becomes unforgettable in a heartbeat.
