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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Small World

 
Mrs. Chatterbox and I flew from Portland to Sacramento to visit our oldest friends a few months after my dad unexpectedly died in 2008. Our friends didn’t have room to put us up so we checked into a nearby hotel.
      
The next morning our friends were picking us up and treating us at their favorite breakfast spot. While waiting for them to arrive I heard a conversation on the far side of the lobby. Three seniors were seated in leather chairs in front of a blazing fireplace, discussing their former careers. The men were about my dad’s age. I overheard one of them say he’d worked Operations for the City of Sunnyvale for thirty years. Sunnyvale is a small town near the southern tip of San Francisco Bay, about a hundred and twenty miles southwest of Sacramento. 
      
I rushed over to them. When there was a break in their conversation I addressed the gentleman who’d worked for the City of Sunnyvale. “Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t help hearing that you worked for the City of Sunnyvale, in the Operations Department?”
      
The man pushed his bifocals up on his nose and looked at me curiously. “That’s right. Do I know you?”
      
“No. but I was wondering if you knew Lee Hayes. He also worked for the City of Sunnyvale for thirty years. He repaired fire trucks and ambulances.”
      
The man ran a hand through his sparse hair, stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I have some bad news for you. Lee passed away a few months ago. I saw his obituary in the paper.”
      
“I know,” I said. “I buried him. I’m his son.”
      
His eyes widened. “You don’t say! I’m George Brewer; knew your dad real well, worked beside him for years. He was one heck of a guy. We were all sad when he retired and moved up to Oregon to be near his son.  So—you’re the son?”
      
I nodded and we shook hands.
      
“Do you live here in Sacramento?” George asked.
      
“No, just visiting friends.”
     
 “I retired and moved to Sacramento to be near my son.”
      
I introduced Mrs. Chatterbox. The other gentlemen had to leave but George invited us to sit down. He regaled us with great stories about Dad until our friends arrived to take us to breakfast.
     
 “It was great meeting you, George,” I said, wondering what the odds were of running into someone this far from home who’d known my dad. “Small world, isn’t it?”
      
George smiled. “Yep, but I wouldn’t want to carpet it.”
     
 An old joke, but one Dad would have laughed at.


Note: Coming soon--the new and improved Chubby Chatterbox. Launching 10/15/12
    
       

49 comments:

  1. What a great story. With the passing of your dad so recent, that meeting must have meant so much to you.

    Looking forward to seeing what "new and improved" means!

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  2. I can't believe it! I finally get to comment....What a nice, touching story, which goes to show us it is a small world!

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  3. I always dread "upgrades" so now I'm worried. But what a coincidence he would happen to there at that time and talking about that so you could hear him. Crazy.

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  4. What a great story! But I agree with PT - what's to improve?

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  5. How very touching, Stephen. I never grow tired of hearing stories about my Dad either.

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  6. small world but i wouldn't want to carpet it. good one! what a sweet surprise that you got to reminisce with one of your dad's friends.

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  7. Isn't amazing when this type of thing occurs! Glad you were able to hear some storiess about your Dad.

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  8. It is a small world. I'm amazed at how small it really is. What a lovely story and how fortunate for you to run into this man. Excellent read too.

    Have a terrific day. :)

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  9. That's a nice story Stephen. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've gone to the city or on a trip and ran into someone from home. It's funny the odd ways fate moves us about to be in the right place at the right time.

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  10. Aren't you glad you asked him?

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  11. Awesome! I can read your blog from my phone!!!

    I love your stories-very touching. Your stories often pique a spark of remembrance of special people/places in my life.

    So thank you, as always.

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  12. Amazing how the universe works.

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  13. Oh, golly... I lived in Sunnyvale once, for about a year.

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  14. This story tugged at my heart. My dad and my godfather (who was my second dad) have both passed away and I've run into situations like this. It's so great to hear these stories and catch up with strangers that knew your father. Loved this.

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  15. The world is INDEED small!! Got me thinking about the "Six degrees of separation" thing...

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  16. Over and over, I am amazed at how we connect with others in this world.

    What a wonderful happenstance to run into someone that knew and liked your Dad.

    What's this about changing Chatterbox??? What is there to change? Pretty great the way it is.

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  17. Damn, I guess it is a small world. That's a pretty amazing and touching story, Stephen. Very cool post!

    On a side note, what kind of upgrades are you thinking about for the blog?

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  18. I've not heard that joke before, and I liked it. I imagine that it was comforting to hear from someone who knew your dad well. And a new Chatterbox? Looking forward to seeing it!

    Also, isn't Sunnyvale where Buffy The Vampire Slayer is set? Id' be careful round that neck of the woods if I were you.

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  19. Serendipity at its best. Nice post!

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  20. A heart-warming tale of fathers and their sons.

    Reading this post has clinched it; I will definitely visit my 82-year old dad this weekend.

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  21. Ahh! They say there are no accidents. ;)
    What a sweet memory.

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  22. It sounds like what happens to me at times -- people walk up and ask if i'm related to Dr. So-and-so, because i look so much like him.

    Enjoy tinkering with your blog!

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  23. It's especially nice that you got to hear lots of stories about your dad the way someone else knew him.

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  24. It is a very cool small world when you can make a connection like this. Makes thing feel a bit more "homey", if you know what I mean.

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  25. I laughed at it too.
    I guess your dad and I would be birds of a feather.

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  26. I think this story illustrates how we are all tied by the threads of our actions and the actions of those before us when we take the time to notice.

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  27. How cool. Once I was traveling west and stopped at a gas station in Needles, CA, and struck up a converstion with a guy at the next pump. Come to find out he lived a few blocks from me, although I didn't know him from back in Texas. What are the odds??

    S

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  28. The best conversations always happen over a meal.

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  29. A small world indeed. That must have been cool to meet someone that knew your Dad so well. :)

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  30. I don't believe in coincidences. That encounter was meant to happen.

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  31. That must have meant a lot to you, to meet someone who had known your father well. What lucky timing!

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  32. Indeed, the world is a small place. Still, what a great coincidence! Or maybe serendipity? At any rate, how nice for you to be able to talk to the gentleman!

    A few years ago a cousin came from Germany to visit me. She was in a grocery store somewhere near a beach in Florida and ran into a woman who had emigrated from Germany decades earlier. It turned out the woman was from my hometown and knew our grandfather.

    I'm so excited I can see the story and am able to comment. Looking forward to the new Chatterbox...and hoping it resolves those issues with not seeing the posts.

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  33. The odds were pretty long for this but that's what makes it sweeter than ever.

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  34. Oh, so wonderful that you went over to him and introduced yourself. Good story, Stephen.

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  35. What are the chances? Though I'm surprised you didn't share some of his stories about your Dad with us.

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  36. Amazing story Stephen, I just imagine the comfort you felt running into this man, Thanks for sharing.

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  37. Hope you purchased a lottery ticket after that chance encounter.

    Then again, the connection and stories must have felt pretty darn good.

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  38. I love these kinds of stories! Beautiful!

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  39. What a Great day that must of been to find an old friend of your Dad! Loved his joke, I wouldn't want to carpet it. I have never heard that one.

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  40. You have had some amazing experiences in your life. Good thing you have good hearing, you were meant to meet George and have some time with him.

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  41. Oh, that was great! How incredible that you just happened to overhear their conversation. And how wonderful that he took the time to tell stories about your dad. It was such perfect timing for you, too, after having just lost your dad. I think he nudged you in that man's direction :)

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  42. It is a very small world, what an awesome meeting that must have been. I've been slack in my reading, thanks for always stopping by and leaving comments! (I'm trying to play catch up)

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  43. What a wonderful encounter. There's no such thing as coincidence..

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  44. That's why we got 2 ears but 1 mouth. More hear less talk

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  45. Well, hello, Portlander. I'm a Eugener.

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  46. A special experience, indeed. My father's been gone 12 years and I miss him.

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  47. I love that you found someone that knew your dad that way. That is really special. Love that joke! I have never heard it before.

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