I had noticed Bev in exercise class. She is always trim and tidy in her jeans and cashmere sweaters, her face carefully tended, and her posture erect. One day we introduced ourselves and asked the usual questions. “Where have you lived the major part of your life?” she asked.
“San Mateo. I lived in San Mateo area for about 40 years. I last lived in San Mateo Park.”
“Oh,” she said, “I lived in San Mateo Park. Where did you live?”
“Occidental Avenue. I have forgotten the house number. What about you?”
She squinted into the past and answered, “I can’t remember. Oh, well.”
The class started. We didn’t talk about other lives any more.
Until last week. Bev and her husband sat behind me at the Wednesday evening concert and she tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and she said, “526 Occidental Avenue.”
Surprised, I said, “That’s right! How did you know my address?”
“No,” she smiled. “That was MY address.”
I chuckled through the entire concert. At its conclusion, Bev and I compared notes. The dog run along side of the house, the pool in the back yard, the bonus room downstairs. She said, “I had barely put the house on the market and some woman came by, walked around, and said she would buy it.”
I nodded. She said, “You got a very good deal.”
Those who know me, know I love Small World Stories. Up until last week, my favorite one was about the time I was standing a long time in the china department of Harrods in London. I was waiting to be helped so when a pleasant looking young woman approached me, I said, “I’m glad to see you. I’d like to buy Peter Rabbit mugs…….” and hadn’t finish my sentence before she said, “I don’t work here. Aren’t you Matt Love’s mom! …… We were in San Mateo High together.“
I think we all have these stories. They seem especially prevalent here in Spring Lake Village. I was telling about Bev’s and my having lived in the same house on Occidental, and my walking buddy stopped and said, “My grandmother lived in the 600 block of Occidental Avenue in San Mateo Park.”
Writing for our Lives 
Comments on: "It’s a Surprise a Minute" (6)
Wow, I call that marvelously serendipitous!! I mean, what are the odds? About one in a trillion or so? So glad that you shared that!!
Yes, Catherine, I have no idea what the odds are, but we certainly are having fun remembering our experiences in the same house at different times.
My favorite small world story took place back in college. I met someone through a friend – they had gone to high school together – and he was now studying at Duke. I told him that a friend of mine, Lacey, was at Duke. His response: “I just met her. We went on a date last week.”
I don’t think the relationship lasted, but that story sure has!
Thank you, Sarah! Isn’t it fun to remember a college story like that? I like hearing from you.
Wow, that is so amazing!
Yes, Jenny, it is amazing. I am constantly amazed now that I am out and about the community. Today I even almost played pickle ball!