Six Degrees of Separation

Although we never saw the movie I was reminded last week - again - of the many instances of “six degrees of separation” we have experienced. The first one was when we lived on Capitol Hill. Senator Enzi lived down the street and knew our son and his family. At our grandson’s birthday party I learned that one of my high school friends was best friends with his daughter. Another was at the Library of Congress where I worked for ten years. Our IT person was from China; his wife’s mother was best friends with the then Chinese president’s sister. My husband is from Iran; his family members married in to another family; they were all vacationing in Italy along with a family member from California; the subject of the Library of Congress came up; the family from California had a best friend whose wife worked at the library; when I learned of this coincidence I contacted the wife at the Library and we met for coffee. My sister in law taught at American University; one of my high school friend’s son was in her class; he mentioned her last name to his mother and it clicked. My sister in law took her mother to a dermatologist; the dermatologist was my high school friend. My sister in law has a brother who is a plastic surgeon; he was colleagues with my high school friend who is a dermatologist. None of these people grew up in the same city. On the surface it may not sound like much, but all I know is that if you talk long enough there may be a common connection. All you need to do is ask the right question. 

Six Degrees of Separation

If you talk to someone long enough you may find a connection. When we first moved to Capitol Hill fourteen years ago, we found out a Florida high school classmate of mine was friends with one of Senator Enzi’s kids. Senator Enzi lived down the street from us. When I worked at the Library of Congress someone there was friends with one of my Iranian niece’s uncles who lived in California. We found out about it when they were all visiting together in Italy and asked if they knew anyone who worked at the Library. Another colleague at the Library was connected to the Chinese President via his wife’s mother - who was best friends with the president’s sister. This time, we were riding on the elevator of our condo and we saw a familiar face - he happened to be the owner of the Mclean Family Restaurant that we have been going to every Saturday for the last many years. He happened to be moving in to our building this month. Upon further investigation, he happens to be the uncle of Pete Sampras. So it’s a small world if you look hard enough. You never know who you might run in to - and it may come full circle. (Photos taken from the internet)

Prince Poppycock - Two Degrees of Separation

If you talk to someone long enough, it is possible to find a connection - you know the “Kevin Bacon” story about degrees of separation. The senator who lives down the street from us has a daughter in law who is best friends with my Florida high school classmate; a colleague at the Library of Congress was connected to the Chinese president via his wife’s family; another colleague at the Library was best friends with the brother of our Niece’s uncle who lives on the other side of the planet. They had a family reunion in Italy when my niece found out she worked at the Library. I contacted her and she said she was the one! Recently I was at a small get together when another connection was made, but I don’t remember how the subject came up. I think I may have mentioned if anyone was watching the new season of America’s Got Talent. That’s when an acquaintance who lives in our building said she knows Prince Poppycock - except she knew him by his real name and still keeps in touch. He is the son of a family she was the nanny to several years back. The Prince ended up fourth in the top four of the 2010 season - singing opera and creating lavish stage productions. So now I know him through her - the closest connection yet. So it’s always fun to hear about these sorts of things. You just need to keep your ears open and maybe just bring up the right subject matter. (Photos from the internet)

Six Degrees of Separation

Over the weekend in Milwaukee for the Fourth of July holiday, I talked to a friend I haven't seen for several years. She mentioned someone she knows who just started working at the Library. I got all the details and sent this person a note. She responded today and a connection was established. This isn't the first time. An international discussion resulted in a common ingredient which was even more interesting. That one included parties from Iran, Denmark, Sweden, California, and the Library. Aside from these two incidents, someone I know at the Library who hails from China is oddly connected to the President of China - so because I know him, I am connected too. A Senator lives down the street from us on Capitol Hill and his daughter is best friends with one if my high school classmates. I suppose if you talk long enough and fish for the clues there may be something to this whole Kevin Bacon theory. If nothing else it's fun exploring. (The first photo is from Wikipedia and the second is from the CNN website.)