The universe has a weird sense of humor.
(And not always the gentle giggling kind—more like the surprise slapstick kind where you slip on a banana peel and land in a puddle of...well, we’ll get there.)
Thank goodness I had already survived a few cosmic curveballs before I moved from New York to New Jersey. Otherwise, I might have missed the real test waiting for me a few years later—one that would change how I see community, and how the universe delivers its messages.
Let me take you back.
Before the Breakdown, There Was the Awakening
Moving from New York was no small thing. I was leaving behind the familiar, diving deeper into my spiritual work, and still coming to terms with being called “a psychic”—a title others gave me before I was ready to wear it.
Maybe you’ve had one of those moments:
👉 Where you're stepping into something bigger, but you still feel like you’re wearing your older, smaller life like a pair of jeans two sizes too tight or too big?
👉 Have you ever known deep inside you were shifting, but your world hadn’t quite caught up yet?
That was me. And New Jersey had plans.
The Crime-Solving Psychic Era Begins
Within six months of moving, detectives came calling. One case after another. The work didn’t stop.
Maybe that sounds like the big twist in this story—but it’s not.
The real twist? That came quietly.
No sirens. No flashing lights. Just one very normal day. Grocery bags in my hand. I parked my Chevy and opened the door, and instantly recoiled—the air was thick with the kind of stench that screams, “You’ve got a problem, lady.”
The Smell That Shouted and the Lights That Left
The second I stepped out of the car, the stench hit me. It was the kind of smell that grabs your face like a cartoon hand and won’t let go. My first thought? Septic tank.
And I was two weeks away from selling the house. The papers were ready. The closing date was set.
I rushed inside to investigate—but when I flicked the light switch, nothing.
Darkness. The kind of darkness that made your soul feel like it dropped a few floors.
Then the phone rang.
Ah yes, this was the era of landlines—phones with cords, remember those?
Still in the dark, literally and metaphorically, I answered.
The electric company said, “Not our issue. It’s yours to fix.”
The Universe’s Pop Quiz (With a Septic Essay Portion)
I looked up and said, “Okay, Universe. I get it. This is a test.”
And here’s the wild thing: years before, my body would have locked down. My reflexes would have stiffened like a brand new snare drum. Panic, anxiety, overwhelm—they were old companions.
But now?
I took a deep breath.
I stayed calm.
I reminded myself: Do your best under the circumstances.
Isn’t that the best we can do, really?
💬 What do you tell yourself when everything feels like it’s going sideways?
💬 Can you trust that the universe is working with you even when it looks like it’s working against you?
Fran, Flashlights, and Faith
Just then, my friend Fran called.
“Hey, what’s going on today?” she asked, casually.
I laughed. “Well, the lights are out, the house smells like something crawled into the septic tank and died, and I have kids walking in the door any second.”
Which they did—my daughter asking, “Mom, what happened to the lights?”
I told her, “Grab flashlights for you and Jesse. I’ll be off the phone in a few minutes, honey.”
Fran must’ve heard something in my voice. She didn’t skip a beat.
“Dave!” she shouted to someone in the background. “Come here. This is my good friend Nancy. She needs help. Help her.”
Dave came to the phone. An electrician. He didn’t ask for money upfront. He just said, “I’ll take care of it. You can pay me after the house sells.”
But Fran wasn’t done.
She said, “Now, call the Department of Health in your town. Trust me.”
I did.
And guess what the woman at the Department of Health said?
“We’ll send an engineer right over. If it needs replacing, we’ll send a crew tomorrow. You can pay us after your closing.”
The Magic Beneath the Mayhem
In one moment, I recognized the universe was handing me a test.
In the next, the pieces came together like a symphony of grace.
All because people stepped up.
All because I asked.
All because I believed—even in the middle of the mess.
💬 Have you ever had a moment like that?
💬 A time when the kindness of others felt like the universe saying, “I’ve got you”?
Here’s what I’ve come to know: if it’s not going my way, chances are the universe has a better route in mind. Think of it like spiritual GPS—it might skip your shortcut, but it always leads to something greater. So now, when things go sideways, I smile, breathe, and say, “Okay, Universe… I trust you. Let’s see where this goes.” Because more often than not, the detour turns out to be the destination I didn’t know I needed.
The Stink Was Sacred
That day—the one with the smell and the darkness and the landline—became one of the most beautiful, mystical, magical moments in my life.
Not because it was smooth.
But because it reminded me that when I trust, life shows up.
💛 I learned that the universe listens.
💛 I learned that staying calm can change the outcome.
💛 And I learned that asking for help opens the floodgates for miracles.
With love as sweet as spring air and bright as the morning sun
Big hugs and flashlight-bright wishes,
Nancy 🌟💡💛