[img]396|left|Alex Campbell||no_popup[/img]You know that expression, “It’s a small world”? It really is. I’ve run into people I know in the most unlikely places, and recently I saw a stranger twice in the same day. More on that later.
One of the most fascinating small world experiences I’ve had was running into a college friend of mine. She lived in Rhode Island and I lived in Massachusetts. We ran into each other in Canada! Another time I bumped into the family of one of my students. We actually lived (and still do) around the corner from each other, but saw each other a few blocks away from my childhood home…in New York City.
I’ve saved the best for last. Ready? When I was a freshman in college I used to go to parties at a fraternity in Cambridge, Massachusetts. One time I was in someone’s room with a bunch of people, and we were all listening to Run DMC’s latest album. One girl and I knew all the words to every rap song, and we were a hit that night. We had so much fun. I never saw her again.
Never To Be Repeated
Fast forward about two years. I was walking through Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, New York City. I passed a woman, and we glanced at each other, and then really looked. It was the woman from the frat party! We shrieked, hugged each other, and had a mini reunion for about five minutes. But we didn’t exchange information. I didn’t see her again. Until…
About seven years later, I was at a party in Boston. I was listening to music, dancing, pushing my way through the crowd of women gathered there. I glanced a woman, and we smiled politely at each other. For awhile, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she looked familiar.
Suddenly, it hit us both at the same time. It was her again! This time we screamed. We jumped up and down, and we grabbed each other. We became a hit once more, and told everyone about our history together.
Last weekend, I had another small world experience, with someone I didn’t even know. I was on the Amtrak train from Boston to New York at 8:30 in the morning. There was a very annoying man sitting in the seat across the aisle from me. He annoyed me because he was talking loudly to the woman who was sitting behind him. They were having a very animated conversation. I wished the woman would just go sit next to him and continue their conversation more quietly. It turned out that she was sitting with her daughter, so she couldn’t move her seat. Other things I learned about my fellow riders, because I couldn’t help but hear:
Did You Hear About?
They both read a lot and seemed to play a game of who could outdo each other with literary/historical trivia.
He was a songwriter and performer who played guitar.
He admired his ex-girlfriend’s father.
Even though he read a lot, he couldn’t quite figure out Moby Dick. He knew the first sentence, but that was about it.
She was going to New York City, but probably wouldn’t be going to any museums on that trip.
He was going to Westerly, Rhode Island, to perform for the first time in a long time. His stop was coming up (Thank goodness).
I was surprised that he didn’t ask for her number as he gathered his things, but he just got off the train. I was happy to have some peace and quiet for the rest of my ride.
My trip to New York was very quick; I met my brother, we took care of some things, had an early dinner, and I was back on the train at 5. I arrived back in Boston around 9:30 p.m. I got off at the station before the main Boston one and walked a few blocks to the subway. As I was waiting for the subway to arrive, who should come into the station but Annoying Train Talking Man. I recognized him immediately by his wiry gray hair and his guitar suitcase. I don’t know if he recognized me or not, but I quickly turned around so as not to start a conversation.
Indeed, the world is a very small place, despite the millions of people inhabiting it. It’s sometimes thrilling, sometimes awkward, but somehow comforting to know that we’re all walking this earth together, and we may run into each other every once in awhile.
Ms. Campbell may be contacted at campbellalexandra@hotmail.com
