March 21, 2024- There are several people in my life who, it seems, have been everywhere I have been and known most of the people I have known, at one time or another. I spent about an hour with such a person, this evening-and each place, or person, I mentioned, jogged his memory. There were fascinating stories that followed, some of which I knew and other that were novel. I was able to recount a few that were new to him, so I would say it is a draw.

Much comes about, just from having lived as long as each of us have. The rest comes from wanderlust, open mindedness, natural friendliness and sheer curiosity. There is the overarching effect, also, of genetic memory. If one’s ancestors lived happily in a certain environment, then one is drawn to that environment. Conversely, if they had bad experiences in a place, then the same, or similar, places may well be repulsive to the descendant.

The only odd part of all this is: We had many of the same friends and lived in many of the same places, yet I only encountered this man a year ago. Now that could be a matter of when we each lived there. It also could be just each of us being part of a large crowd, only some of whom hobnobbed with some others and at different times, even if our stays overlapped. Interests shift, and don’t always converge.

Still, I ponder the meaning of situations in which it seems there are zero degrees of separation.