Fred and I are still amazed about Anne’s sister and him being born on the same day in the same hospital, how random is that?!?!?! Fred and I play golf every Tuesday and happened to be at Oceanside Municple Golf Course when we were getting ready to tee off and a couple came running up and saying they were sorry they were late… we’ve become good friends and have been golfing with them ever since!
Yes! It was random that I saw your post and that we connected! So happy for that! And again, so happy for you and Anne and that we could share in your happiness!
I got clean and sober in 93 and have met a lot of people. The most memorable was Bill Bonds. He was a newscaster that challenged Colman Young, the mayor of Detroit to a first fight. He was nice as could be sober. I also met the daughter of the leader of the notorious purple gang that bootlegged booze from Canada. She was a hoot, and had stories that would curl your toes. The great thing about surrending, is that it turned a selfish sociopath who took myself out of society so I could be free to do what I wanted. Into a loving person who will talk and help anyone who needs it. When my sponsor passed she had 60yrs sober.
Congrats on 30 freaking years clean and sober. That’s amazing Deb. Thanks for sharing some of your connections. Isn’t that the antidote of addiction after all? Connection. ☺️
When I asked my sponsor how she stayed sober for so long, she said dont die go to meetings, be honest, and help others. Her favorite saying when I'd get down was well who have you helped today. Lol.
I like how you frame it around risk-taking Josh. I see that. Certainly yours was a great example. 🕺
I’m sure you’ve shown your daughter some of the excellent Rogers Hanmerstein musicals--plenty of diaphragm-stretching tunes to belt out to strangers in that repertoire.
I saw Mike Tyson at the airport once, probably circa 2004. I think I was flying to Brazil, or maybe to Vermont (if it was VT, it was 2007ish). I saw Iron Mike there, and all I could think to shout was "Nintendo!"
Mike seemed to really appreciate that, face tattoo and all! It was surreal.
As you say Dee, it's amazing! The connectedness of humans.
One time our family went to Mexico, we were staying in a condo that belonged to friends. One evening my husband was sitting on the deck and I was inside reading with the door open. It was dark out and a family had just arrived and was walking by to get settled in their unit. We heard them talking and knew it was neighbors who had lived directly across the street from us but moved away many years before. They were staying across the complex and it's likely we would never have run into them if we hadn't recognized their voices in the dark, in a random location two countries south of ours!
My thoughts unsurprisingly turn to college, where it used to be widely understood that being "well-rounded" was valuable, not because it led to predetermined outcomes but because it prepared one for unforeseen encounters or experiences. But I used to tell my students that in order to "use" what they were learning, they had to be interesting people and seek out novel experiences.
I illustrated the point with perhaps the most "useless" of my classes: a voice elective during my senior year. I was never going to be a professional singer, so it might have been silly to learn a handful of classical songs in German, Italian, and French. But ten years later I sat next to two women from Germany on a "collectivo" (shared taxi) in Costa Rica -- and they fell off their seats laughing when I sang the sappy German song I'd learned (about a young fraulein). We all had dinner together and went our separate ways, which isn't terribly grandiose. But I still remember them, and I'd bet that they remember the eccentric American. Thirty years later my daughter is obsessed with musical theatre, and I'm able to give her some advice about how to hit the high notes with the diaphragm, not a tensed up throat. That feels a little more grandiose.
These happy accidents happen more often to people who take risks and don't stay in their lane.
Nice of you to say Pamela. I believe in the 12th step of AA.
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
I’m merely a humble servant and try to pass on the gift I was so freely given 🙏
These have happened to a lot of us I’m sure but to me those times are definitely memorable. When they happen it feels to me like happy little accidents. The times when it feels you take a different road or walk a different direction and there they are. I was quite you and had two small boys. I had grown up in the church and felt they should be exposed to it as kids. We had moved to a small town in PA in the Coal Region. Sitting in that very small neighborhood church, I saw a girl that looked about my age. The longer I looked at her it certainly looked like a girl from my really small town in Kentucky. At the end of the service I made sure to wait until she walked by - Melinda?!? Omg it IS you! We were a year apart but she lived a street over from me growing up.
The other time it was a flight to Nashville from Arizona. I saw someone sitting in the first class section that looked like one of my favorite FB players. Again I made sure I could “bump into” I was very quiet and asked - Franco may I shake your hand? I don’t want to start a kind around you I just have to shake the hand that that caught the Immaculate Reception!! He stopped and we had a quick chat about how those were THE BEST years in FB, all of those guys that played and were so exciting! I met other celebrities living in Southern California and being a cocktail waitress. I think it may be Divine intervention- or some other intervention. I was not very impressed with meeting some celebrities as at the time sports were a big deal as my kids played and we were all Steelers fans.
I’m thrilled you have found your “other half” may it last an eternity! ✌🏻💖💖
Yeah the point of the essay wasn’t supposed to be about celebrity swipes but I guess that’s what jumps out at people. Thanks for sharing your personal ones 🙏 I love the one about Melinda ☺️
Oops - I thought you said You were not but yes the Melinda story was bizarre because one small town to another WHAT? Franco was def passed his celebrity status I think but he was a HERO!!
Fred and I are still amazed about Anne’s sister and him being born on the same day in the same hospital, how random is that?!?!?! Fred and I play golf every Tuesday and happened to be at Oceanside Municple Golf Course when we were getting ready to tee off and a couple came running up and saying they were sorry they were late… we’ve become good friends and have been golfing with them ever since!
So great to be with you both. Amazing 😉
Yes! It was random that I saw your post and that we connected! So happy for that! And again, so happy for you and Anne and that we could share in your happiness!
I got clean and sober in 93 and have met a lot of people. The most memorable was Bill Bonds. He was a newscaster that challenged Colman Young, the mayor of Detroit to a first fight. He was nice as could be sober. I also met the daughter of the leader of the notorious purple gang that bootlegged booze from Canada. She was a hoot, and had stories that would curl your toes. The great thing about surrending, is that it turned a selfish sociopath who took myself out of society so I could be free to do what I wanted. Into a loving person who will talk and help anyone who needs it. When my sponsor passed she had 60yrs sober.
Congrats on 30 freaking years clean and sober. That’s amazing Deb. Thanks for sharing some of your connections. Isn’t that the antidote of addiction after all? Connection. ☺️
When I asked my sponsor how she stayed sober for so long, she said dont die go to meetings, be honest, and help others. Her favorite saying when I'd get down was well who have you helped today. Lol.
Yes. Simple but not easy. My sweetheart celebrated 39 years this last summer and she says much the same. 🙏
Congratulations to you both and many more.
Excellent
I like how you frame it around risk-taking Josh. I see that. Certainly yours was a great example. 🕺
I’m sure you’ve shown your daughter some of the excellent Rogers Hanmerstein musicals--plenty of diaphragm-stretching tunes to belt out to strangers in that repertoire.
Thanks for reading Josh
I saw Mike Tyson at the airport once, probably circa 2004. I think I was flying to Brazil, or maybe to Vermont (if it was VT, it was 2007ish). I saw Iron Mike there, and all I could think to shout was "Nintendo!"
Mike seemed to really appreciate that, face tattoo and all! It was surreal.
😎
Congrats on oh so many levels!
Thank you DuAnne! ❤️
As you say Dee, it's amazing! The connectedness of humans.
One time our family went to Mexico, we were staying in a condo that belonged to friends. One evening my husband was sitting on the deck and I was inside reading with the door open. It was dark out and a family had just arrived and was walking by to get settled in their unit. We heard them talking and knew it was neighbors who had lived directly across the street from us but moved away many years before. They were staying across the complex and it's likely we would never have run into them if we hadn't recognized their voices in the dark, in a random location two countries south of ours!
That’s such a great example of exactly what I wrote about. How random and how wonderfully connected!
My thoughts unsurprisingly turn to college, where it used to be widely understood that being "well-rounded" was valuable, not because it led to predetermined outcomes but because it prepared one for unforeseen encounters or experiences. But I used to tell my students that in order to "use" what they were learning, they had to be interesting people and seek out novel experiences.
I illustrated the point with perhaps the most "useless" of my classes: a voice elective during my senior year. I was never going to be a professional singer, so it might have been silly to learn a handful of classical songs in German, Italian, and French. But ten years later I sat next to two women from Germany on a "collectivo" (shared taxi) in Costa Rica -- and they fell off their seats laughing when I sang the sappy German song I'd learned (about a young fraulein). We all had dinner together and went our separate ways, which isn't terribly grandiose. But I still remember them, and I'd bet that they remember the eccentric American. Thirty years later my daughter is obsessed with musical theatre, and I'm able to give her some advice about how to hit the high notes with the diaphragm, not a tensed up throat. That feels a little more grandiose.
These happy accidents happen more often to people who take risks and don't stay in their lane.
Actually I meant you may have fans looking to meet you!
Nice of you to say Pamela. I believe in the 12th step of AA.
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
I’m merely a humble servant and try to pass on the gift I was so freely given 🙏
Excellent reply and you are def stepping hi my friend! ✌🏻
🫣
Congrats to you & Ann!
These have happened to a lot of us I’m sure but to me those times are definitely memorable. When they happen it feels to me like happy little accidents. The times when it feels you take a different road or walk a different direction and there they are. I was quite you and had two small boys. I had grown up in the church and felt they should be exposed to it as kids. We had moved to a small town in PA in the Coal Region. Sitting in that very small neighborhood church, I saw a girl that looked about my age. The longer I looked at her it certainly looked like a girl from my really small town in Kentucky. At the end of the service I made sure to wait until she walked by - Melinda?!? Omg it IS you! We were a year apart but she lived a street over from me growing up.
The other time it was a flight to Nashville from Arizona. I saw someone sitting in the first class section that looked like one of my favorite FB players. Again I made sure I could “bump into” I was very quiet and asked - Franco may I shake your hand? I don’t want to start a kind around you I just have to shake the hand that that caught the Immaculate Reception!! He stopped and we had a quick chat about how those were THE BEST years in FB, all of those guys that played and were so exciting! I met other celebrities living in Southern California and being a cocktail waitress. I think it may be Divine intervention- or some other intervention. I was not very impressed with meeting some celebrities as at the time sports were a big deal as my kids played and we were all Steelers fans.
I’m thrilled you have found your “other half” may it last an eternity! ✌🏻💖💖
Yeah the point of the essay wasn’t supposed to be about celebrity swipes but I guess that’s what jumps out at people. Thanks for sharing your personal ones 🙏 I love the one about Melinda ☺️
Oops - I thought you said You were not but yes the Melinda story was bizarre because one small town to another WHAT? Franco was def passed his celebrity status I think but he was a HERO!!
I am sure you had/have that status as well??
He was certainly a hero to Steelers fans ☺️
Yes I have gad many sports heroes in my life. Met a few of them over the years. It’s amazing.