It's a Small World After All

You're probably already mad at me and you haven't even started reading this post, because now you've got that song in your head! So sorry! It just seemed like a fitting title, so I went with it. I do have a couple good reasons for using that song title, so you'll have to keep reading to find out why.

I admit - I love a good coincidence! I love finding out how people are connected. I actually find it pretty easy to find those connections - you just have to start talking and asking questions, and you never know what you'll figure out! One time I drove through the drive-thru of a Starbucks, and within the amount of time it took for me to pay for my drink and then receive my drink, I had learned that the barista and I had a whole lot in common, including the fact that we had both lived in many of the same cities across Canada. There were other details as well, but I drove away with a smile on my face, feeling connected once again.

So here's story #1. At the beginning of kindergarten this year, Taya kept mentioning her new best friend, Alina. She seems to make a new best friend every other week, but Alina was sticking around. I knew I needed to plan a play date for the girls, but it can actually be difficult to connect (yes, it's true!) after school, when there is so much chaos, and some kids aren't even picked up by their parents. Well, wouldn't you know, we're driving home from school, almost at our house, and there is Alina, getting out of her van at her house, less than 10 houses away from ours! Needless to say, we were all thrilled, and we have enjoyed getting to know Alina and her family.

But that's not the whole story. I finally had Alina and her mom and brother over for a visit, and we got talking about family. Turns out Alina's mom's brother lives in Calgary. Of course, Calgary is huge, and they could live anywhere. But I happened to ask what area they lived in, and she told me Coventry. Well, what a coincidence - both my in-laws and their families live in Coventry - small world! Then she mentioned that they lived on Coventry Court. Well, wouldn't you know, but they live across the cul-de-sac from my brother-and-sister-in-law, about 5 houses away! How cool is that! My in-laws have even given this family some of the bikes that my nieces have outgrown. We had fun looking at google map pictures of both of their houses, and comparing our descriptions of the neighborhood.

Story #2. Stefan and I decided a month or two ago to start attending a home church (AKA - care group, small group). It meets at a house not far from ours and so far it's a small group, 6-8 people. Having grown up with a Mennonite background, it's pretty easy to spot other Mennonites, usually by their last name, or possibly the area they grew up in. One guy there had recently moved from Winnipeg, and knew a whole bunch of the same people that Stefan knew from years ago. That was kinda cool. But then I started talking to Sandra, who grew up in southern Ontario. After making the initial connection, she mentioned that she had family in the Langley/Aldergrove area, which is where I grew up. Being Mennonite, I wondered which church her relatives attended there. She couldn't remember the exact name, but thought it might be Bethel. She began to describe the area - lots of big ravines, and just down the street from where her grandparents had lived, at the top of the hill. Of course, I attended Bethel church my whole life until we were married! And of course, I know exactly who her grandparents and parents are, although I haven't seen them in many years.

It turns out that her mom, who grew up in Aldergrove, met her dad and they settled in Ontario, but continued to visit their family in BC. In my family, my mom, who was from southern Ontario, met my dad in BC, where they settled, and we continued to visit relatives in Ontario. In talking further, I learned that Sandra's mom is best friends with my Aunt Jo, and they all still get together and visit every year or so. So, do you see what I mean about it being a small world? I wonder how many people we come across every day are connected to us in these sorts of ways? It doesn't have to take a very involved conversation to make those connections sometimes. I can think of other stories similar to these that have happened over the years, although perhaps not quite so dramatic. There is a feeling of family and "home" that a person gets when they realize just how small our world is and just how much we have in common with other people.

One thing I love about living in Burlington is the regularity with which I bump into people that I knew from the years that we lived here before. There are people from the neighborhood, people from preschool, from church and swimming lessons and moms groups and just about everywhere. I even bumped into one of my favorite regular customers at the Starbucks I used to work at (he still goes there regularly) - he held the door open for me as I walked in behind him, and I said - Grande Extra Hot Cappuccino!! I actually didn't remember his name in that moment, but I did remember his drink, which he still orders all these years later! He thought it was great that I still remembered his drink. He remembered me, probably more because I was the pregnant barista at the time, but we used to have lots of chats while I was working, and I think I may have been his favorite barista! So much fun!

I hope you enjoyed reading these stories - they make me smile when I think about them. There's a joke in Mennonite circles about playing the "Mennonite Game", which is essentially asking other Mennonites who their family is, etc., that after 5 minutes of talking, you will discover that you are indeed related. I have often been asked by older Mennonite folks what my parents' names are, because that is how you start playing the Mennonite Game! It just takes off from there.

I have to mention something food related, as I actually haven't yet, and this blog is supposed to be about food, sort of! My snack right before I started typing was a bowl of my homemade granola (oats, honey, olive oil, coconut, almonds, etc.) served with chocolate almond milk. Almond milk is surprisingly good, and similar in consistency and flavor to cow's milk. Of course, almond milk is much healthier for a person. It was a delish combination which would also have been tasty with some regular almond milk. Healthy and filling!

OH!! I forgot to mention something else very exciting! We have booked a trip to the Dominican Republic with our kids! We were not planning to do this, but we found a fantastic deal and decided to go for it! We are going to the same resort we went to when I was pregnant with Connor. It is very kid-friendly and has a Flintstones Land. We leave March 31 for a week, and will be gone over Easter. Needless to say, we are all very excited!

Happy Spring Break to you!