Small World

When Anthony and I moved to Dallas in 1997, we had this unspoken assumption that we wouldn't know anyone there (apart from my mom and my brother) and the probability of us bumping into someone we knew was slim to none. This anonymity was great and lonely at the same time.

In Dallas as a new married couple, we had our Sunday routine (if I wasn't traveling) of a late breakfast, grocery shopping and being lazy the rest of the day. One Sunday, the Bronco game was going to be televised in Dallas, so we hurried off to the store fashioning our most comfy Bronco sweatshirt and hat with our assumed anonymity in tote. As I walked down the middle aisle, I think I see another Bronco shirt. "Strange," I thought, and went along with my shopping. As the other Bronco fan neared, she appear familiar. Wishful thinking right? But yes, I did know her. She went to high school with me at Lakewood and we also cheered together. I had to act! "Carrie," I said. She didn't hear me. "CARRIE!" I said louder. She turns and makes the connection as we both say. "What are you doing in Dallas?" And laughter and shock covered us. We exchanged numbers and were able to get together a couple times a year while we lived in Dallas and would talk about Denver. What we missed. What we were glad to leave behind. And, if and when we thought we would move back. Her husband and she always hosted a "NFL Season Opener" party that we would go to sporting our Bronco fashion. It was always a good time to see them.

After we had the twins, our world went upside down. And we didn't see really anyone and our focus turned to raising three kids, 2 and under, and how in the hell were we going to move back to Denver. Anthony was stressed at work and I was crazy at home. Fun year! We managed, but unfortunately we lost that connection with Carrie and Scott.

Fast-forward to this past Christmas, when to my surprise I get a card from Carrie. It is a picture of her and Scott and their two lovely little boys. But the background of the picture wasn't in Dallas but in Denver. And a little note inscribed on the photo that read, "We followed you back home. Give me a call." It was nice to see how their family had grown. But with the holidays and all the chaos of everyday life, I put the card up and decided to call after Christmas. June rolls around as I am looking through photos and I find Carrie's card. I call immediately. We catch up and she lets me know that they are planning their NFL party for September and would like us to come. Great, great!

As many of you know, I work for a catering company on a independent-contractor basis during the wedding season. In the 3+ years I have been catering, I have only bumped into someone I have known once. This Friday night as I was working the buffet line, there is Carrie and Scott. Saturday is their party. But no, I run into them on Friday night. What are the odds? Are cosmic forces bring us together? It is the craziest! Do I have you all singing It's a Small World yet?