Thursday, January 17, 2008

Connection - Coincidence?

When I was six years old I met a little girl who would be one of my closest friends growing up. We played, we fought, we were like sisters.

Even after I moved away in junior high, our strong bond kept us in contact through letters and even the occasional visit. We did this all through college and after; she was in my wedding and at my first baby shower.

Then life intervened, got busier, and we both moved around a fair amount. We lost contact. We reconnected seven years ago, right before 9/11, and were both equally thrilled. We discovered we both worked for a district attorney's office, she had just given birth to her first boy - I was yet to be pregnant with mine. Then, still in the Air Force, we moved again, and when I tried to contact her she was no longer at her numbers. She had moved, too, and to where I had no idea.

This past Christmas while sorting through the decorations to be set up I found the last letter from my friend. I read it and started crying. How was it that someone who literally played a hand in the shaping of my young self could just be gone? I showed my girls the letter and some pictures and told them how important it is to keep dear friends close. As I get older, I am increasingly grateful for the precious gift of friendship my girlfriends give me.

I've thought about her a lot over the holidays.

Yesterday, my sister emailed me with a message she had received on her cell phone. My old friend had found her number and was trying to find me. I was stunned. But it gets even better.

I called my old friend, ecstatic at the prospect of reconnecting, and told her everything I'm telling you now. She was quiet for a moment. She told me that she had been thinking of me over the years and wished we hadn't lost contact. But then, around Christmas, that feeling got stronger. She cleaned out a basket on top of her refrigerator and an old business card of mine from the DA's office fell out. She thought it might be a sign she should look for me again.

Later, she took her boys for a walk at the waterfront park in the town where I moved to in junior high. Unbeknownst to me, she now lives very close to this town. The sidewalk of this park is paved with thousands and thousands of bricks, each depicting a name of people who have sponsored a little bit of the cost of building the park. At one point my friend looked down and noticed she was standing on a brick bearing my daughter's names.

She wondered if someone was trying to tell her something.

Finally, on business, she was in the lobby of a large building and was admiring some elaborately decorated Christmas trees. One in particular caught her eye, and next to the tree was a small placard indicating that the tree had been decorated and donated by my mom.

She decided she had to find me.

All the while, I was thinking of her.

Coincidence? Fate? God? What do you think? I've had chills since yesterday afternoon.

43 comments:

Robin said...

What an amazing connection you too obviously have - it gave me chills too.

Life As I Know It said...

oooh, I got chills reading that. There are people in our lives with whom we are deeply connected and always seem to find our way back to eachother.
Very cool!

Anonymous said...

I think it's wonderful, what ever it is.

K said...

Awww I love that! I often think of a friend, the friendship fell apart, and wonder if she misses me like I miss her.

Nancy said...

Reminds me of what I just posted on 1/8

I think there is an unexplained inner tug that directs us to these types of things.

Yeah for reconnecting ... don't lose it ever again =)

Anonymous said...

Amazing how that works. I reconnected with an old neighbor about a year ago. We shared many, many memories and were both able to talk about how important our friendship was at the time.

I couldn't believe that after so long, you can just pick up as though you have talked yesterday.

Magpie said...

Synchronicity.
ESP.
Cool.

Don Mills Diva said...

That is amazing. I'm so happy for you.

Anonymous said...

I honesly believe there is no such thing as coincidence. And I love this story.

Joanie

Moments Of Mom said...

WOW. That is amazing.
Definitely a higher power at work there.

So glad you found your friend.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure what that is, but I would very definitely call that some sort of "cosmic" link. :)

I'm glad you guys found each other again. :)

Sarcasta-Mom said...

Wow, that's awsome. I'm not sure what to call that either, except to note that connections are powerful things....

Cathy, Amy and Kristina said...

That is incredible. Gave me chills too.

Anonymous said...

When things like that happen to me, I have to respond. It's the universe telling you something. Or maybe when two people are thinking about each other very hard...those kinds of reminders are sent along to help expedite the situation. I just think this is a fantastic story. Can't wait to hear about the actual reunion.

Family Adventure said...

It was definitely something...and how wonderful that she was able to track you down!

Heidi

Beck said...

Oooh, spooky! I think that it's the gentle push of God, really.

flutter said...

I think that is the hand of God, What a beautiful connection

Rachel said...

I do think that sometimes things are *meant* to happen, whatever you want to call it. What an amazing story. I am so glad you were able to reconnect with her.

Biddy said...

whatever it was, i'm so happy it happened! that's so awesome

Jennifer said...

Oh that gave me chills! Very cool story, I believe that this was MUCH more than a coincidence.

Have fun with your long lost friend.

B2G said...

That is totally insane! I have chills right now. I'm so happy for you that you will get to be in each other's lives again!

Tracy said...

omg, that gives me chills too.I'm so glad you got back in touch with each other. thanks for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

have you ever read "the Celestine Prophecy" By James Redfield? The book is about coincidences like these, and what you should do about them. Good read on people skills, too.

Jan said...

That is wonderful. Hope you stay in touch this time. Life often gets in the way, but it's worth the work to keep in touch.

Mary Alice said...

I'm not sure I believe in coincidences. I think things happen for a reason. The Universe conspires.

B.E.C.K. said...

Such a cool story! Serendipity and all that. And how wonderful that two old friend have been reunited!! :-)

Anonymous said...

The Universe is a mysterious place; there are too many of these "coinidences, for them too be coincidences. Luckily, the universe seems to want the same thing for you that you want for yourself.

Can't wait for the next installment of the story!

insanemommy said...

G-d that gave me chills too! What a great connection though. Friendships are soothing balm for the soul. Don't let her get away this time.

Little Miss Sunshine State said...

I don't believe in coincidence. I believe that you two were both sending similar energy out into the universe. Because you wanted to reconnect, it made you notice things that were pulling you back toward each other.
My Mom and I are often trying to phone each other at the same time and my best friend and I wil mail each other a card or a letter on the same day. My sister and I have birthdays in the same week and we often send each other the same card.
When these things happen, feel the energy that surrounds you.

The Cube Monkey said...

That's not just coinky-dink. That's a damn cool connection. =)

Jessica @ Little Nesting Doll said...

OH, that's crazy. No way is that a coincidence...the universe wanted you to find each other.

Crystal D said...

Oh, I believe it could just be all of those things. She must be just as special as you are. :)

Beth Cotell said...

Reading this post has given me chills, too! God is trying to get you two together for something. Can't wait to hear what it is.

Kat said...

Yes, I have the chills now too. Fate. Definitely, fate.

Sarahviz said...

There's seriously nothing better than the comfort and ease of an old friend.

Mary Beth said...

What a great ending - once you mentioned 9/11 I was afraid something awful had happened to her. Obviously your friendship is destined to continue. May it be as strong in the future...

painted maypole said...

i believe that sometimes a power greater than us is trying to tell us something. Well, I think most of the time, but we only hear it some of the time.

Anonymous said...

That is lovely. I hope you both join Facebook so you cannot lose touch again!

Jennifer said...

Chills! I love it!

Daisy said...

Chills, yet not the frightening kind. How wonderful that both of you recognized this need to reconnect and acted on it!

Liz said...

That is absolutely amazing! Let us know what happens.

Fairly Odd Mother said...

Awesome coincidence!! You'll have to tell us when you guys meet up---I hope you can rekindle that special friendship!

BlondeMomBlog (Jamie) said...

That is an AMAZING story Jen! You're going to make me cry.