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My “RarEvent” story today is about two guys (Dan and Mike)
who first met at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
OOOOk-lahoma,
where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain,
As these words roll off the tongue – even the melody rings clear.
I couldn’t help myself. Some things are just ingrained in the brain.
After leaving college, two men I know, came to Fort Sill and became good friends. These two, did their normal Army thing and on occasion, they’d drink a couple of beers together. They became good friends. When their tour at Fort Sill ended, they went their separate ways – and soon lost contact with each other. It happens.
Now, fast forward about seven years. One of the guys, Dan, completed a tour in Europe and ended up moving to Schenectady, New York to work at GE. This first job lasted about 2 1/2 years and then GE decided to move him to Boston. There Dan took an apartment in the North End, since inexpensive apartments could be found there — and he’d be in walking distance of downtown Boston.
Boston - North End
Now you might want to know Dan is a runner – so almost daily he would leave his apartment and jog around town for exercise. As a runner, Dan always checks his shoes, sets his watch, and turns on his iPod. On one occasion Dan took his time doing all his checking, but finally he stepped around the corner to head out on his morning run. His timing was apparently perfect for Dan came face-to-face with none other than his old friend Mike. His Army buddy from Fort Sill.
To say the least, they were both astounded. Dan and Mike had lived in Boston’s North End for the last six months – but they hadn’t seen each other until this moment. Without a doubt — This was a “Rare Event”.
One thing led to another and within a few weeks, both Dan and Mike decided they could live more cheaply — if they shared an apartment. That lasted for two years, and once again they each moved on. Each is now married. And once again they live many miles apart. Mike lives on the West Coast and Dan’s living in Ohio. However, they now keep in touch.
In a sense, this meeting was more than a simple matter of fate. For Dan it was a career changing experience. Through Mike — Dan met someone who would become his boss. I guess you could say this “Rare Event” ended up changing Dan’s life and his career. How do such meetings happen? We may never know. For now let’s just say – it’s one of those Little Mysteries of Life.
A Tip of my Hat – To DK for telling me this story.
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