connections
Six Degrees of Separation from Me, I Guess
I’ve had a particularly annoying song popping into my head frequently, and by the end of the post, I’m sure you’ll have guessed it.
It started a month or two ago. My mom mentioned something about where her mother and grandmother had grown up, and our neighbor down the street remembered that her husband had family connections in the same location. Five minutes of conversation later, we figured out that my mom and this woman’s husband are second cousins, making me and the children in that family third cousins.
Oh, and one of those kids is in my math class. He now periodically greets me with, “Hey, Cuz!”
Earlier this week, I went to the mall to pick up a few things. A lady helped me at a particular store, answering questions and pointing out products she thought would fit my needs. During checkout, she signed me up for their frequent shopper rewards program, which involved giving my name, address, and such. She got a look on her face and said, “Did you … this probably sounds weird, but do you play the cello?”
I looked at her a little harder. “Tonya?”
Turns out we both played cello in the same junior high orchestra as well as the local youth symphony.
Then yesterday, my mother went in for surgery. (She’s doing well!) In the ICU afterwards (part of the plan, don’t worry!), the nurse and my dad got to small-talking. Dad asked if she’s from the area. She said she was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.
That’s where my mom grew up.
When my dad mentioned that, the nurse asked for her maiden name. Dad gave it.
“You mean Aunt Nelle and Uncle Ivan??” (My grandparents.)
Turns out this woman is my mom’s second cousin (their grandmothers were sisters). My mom even remembers her from way back, I think.
I guess there’s really no point in me being surprised at these things anymore.