Currently I’m reading Stephen King’s novel, The Outsider. I’m about 4/5 of the way through the book and had to stop and catch my breath. The man certainly knows how to build to a thrilling denouement. I’m sure nightmares are forthcoming.
Somewhere in the pages I’ve already read one of the main characters uses the word confluence. The details of a gruesome murder in one small Oklahoma town and those of a similar crime in Ohio led those investigating the first to discover the second due to a confluence of events.
I began to wonder if I’d ever used the word confluence in a conversation or in writing, and I can say with almost complete certainty that until this day I never had. It’s such a mellifluous word, and fairly rolls off the tongue. Sort of like mellifluous does, come to think about it. I wish I’d used it at some earlier time in my 61 years on this earth.
Yesterday Studly Doright and I went for breakfast at the Broken Egg in Tallahassee. As we waited for our orders to arrive the Neil Diamond song, Thank the Lord for the Night Time, played over the restaurant’s sound system. We’d just heard the same song on Sirius/XM’s channel 6 on our drive across town. So would that be a coincidence or a confluence of events? Or is it just sad that I had to listen to that song twice within a twenty minute period?
The photos above show the confluence of the turquoise blue Havasu Creek with the Colorado River. Neither has anything to do with Neil Diamond.
Peace, people!
Both the words certainly flow
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Great post. I have bought The Outsider and haven’t started yet as I am immersed in another book. (Funny enough, it’s a Neil Gaiman book, close right?!?!?!) I had to read this post because I had no idea how Neil Diamond and King were going to…conflagrate? nope! that means to catch fire…. King always seems to have a word in every book that I have to admit is new to me and one that he uses often in that book. In 11/22 it was “obdurant.” and “piebald” in Lisey’s Story. I can’t wait to read “The Outsider” and I look forward to following your blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I know I’d heard confluence, and I’d seen it written, but I’d never used it myself. Stephen King manages to scare us and enlighten us at the same time. I like Neil Gaiman a lot, too. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, yes, and yes! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to rather like that song . Great post x
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was never one of my favorites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely a coincidence re the Neil Diamond song. But those rivers merging are absolutely a confluence. I’m pretty sure I’ve never said out loud -or written – the word “mellifluous.”
It sounds like The Outsider might be a book I’d like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mellifluous, what a great word. We should use it more often.
LikeLiked by 1 person