Thursday, November 4, 2010

It Just Took One Question

I was talking with a new colleague recently. We were making small talk and she asked me where I live. (one question) I told her and she said that her sister used to live on that same street, but has been living in Connecticut for several years. So I asked for her name. When she told me, you could have knocked me over with a feather, as the saying goes. Her sister and I had been the best of friends and neighbors. My daughter had even done some babysitting for her children. This had taken place at least 15-20 years ago. Her sister went on to tell me that she was in town to attend her nephew's wedding. It truly is a small world. If my new colleague had not asked that one question we probably would have never made the connection. I hope to reunite with my dear friend in the next few days before she leaves for home. Have you ever had an experience where one question or comment lead to a special outcome?

13 comments:

  1. When I read your post, I could not think of a comment or question that led to an encounter. But indeed, I have experienced that. About 10 years ago, I was looking for my birth mother, to no avail. (I'm adopted.) One friend who has become a self-taught geneology expert recommended checking out some internet bulletin boards, and I responded to a posting (a question) that led to meeting a half-sister and--a couple of years later--another half sister.

    I am so glad you might get to reconnect with your old friend. It is indeed a small world...

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  2. Hi Barb! That is a wonderful story! I just love it when those kind of things happen! I'll have to think about the "one question" thing...and get back to you!!

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  3. I love this story--and Sioux's, too! I have one, also. At my wedding in 1983, my aunt was surprised to see her good friend of many years, Emily, in attendance. After greeting one another, my aunt asked, "So do you know the bride or the groom?"

    "The groom," Emily replied, "is my nephew."

    "My niece is the bride!" said Aunt Gina.

    Although we had been engaged a year and the women were good friends, neither had realized the niece of one was marrying the nephew of the other until that day.

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  4. Thank you, Sioux, Becky, and Dianna for your comments. It is fun to hear what others have to share.

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  5. I attended my uncle's funeral and in walked one of my students and his mother. I asked how they knew the deceased, and she said, "He's my uncle." It was on the paternal side of my uncle's family. It is a small world.

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  7. Trying to add you to my blog, but unable to. What is your blog url?

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  8. Barb, still unable. It says that your URL can not be detected. Suggestions?

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  9. Barb, what a lovely story that demonstrates just how small the world is, and that we must always try to connect with one another.
    Are you going to write a story about it?

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  10. Dear Barb,
    Yesterday I was out with mutual friends and asked the one I'd not met before, "Do you know Ann M?" just out of the blue. Turns out they are best friends. As the evening wore on, it turned out we knew others in common, shared life experiences, even in the 60s. But the best coincidence was that she had just returned from a trip to South Dakota and had photos of the town where my mother was born (I'd never been to that town) and the mine where my Grandfather had labored at that time, Homestake Gold MIne, until injured. It's rare that I meet someone who closely connects to my personal history--a gift!

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  11. I was introduced to a man who had moved to the Azores & he told me he grew up in Michigan where I'm from. Turned out his parents were from the same town as I grew up in and knew my parents. Here we were both living on an island in the middle of the ocean and found out our parents were pals back home!

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  12. Hi Barb,
    Fascinating post.
    About a month ago during an eye exam, the technician mentioned she moved back to St. Louis from Chicago. We got to talking about where she grew up in St. Louis. It was the same neighborhood as mine. When she told me her last name I said, "My sister went to grade school with a girl with that name."
    Turns out the eye technician and my sister's classmate were one in the same.
    Donna V.
    http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com

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  13. Thank you, ladies, for your wondeful responses and taking the time to respond.

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