“…There is just one moon and one golden sun, and a smile means friendship to ev’ryone. Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide, it’s a small world after all.” It’s a Small World – The Disneyland Chorus
Ever been to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World and ridden the 15-minute long ride, It’s A Small World? Were you able to get that song out of your head after the ride was over? Imagine being on that ride when it fails, and you are stranded listening to the song looping over and over. That has actually happened several times. And the guests on the ride described the experience in many unfavorable terms – “Hell” was used more than once.
But don’t you just love “small world” events? Things that happen to you that cause you to stop and say “Wow, it really is a small world!” Remember how I am fascinated with the ISS (International Space Station)? I get an email letting me know when it will be passing over Charlottesville, and when and where to look for it. That happened last week. It was going to pass overhead at 8:30 pm and would be visible for 4 minutes. Of course it gave the direction it would travel, but I am directionally challenged and have no idea when looking to the sky off my deck which way is east, west, north, or south. I just look. Shared this with my kids. My son texted me and told me it would pass over Charlotte at 8:31 and he was watching. Same time I was. We both saw it about the same time. That seems pretty amazing to me – that we are 4 ½ hours apart and yet, we were both texting and seeing the same thing in the sky at the same time. That was very comforting to me – another connection with my out of town child. It is a small world.
“For one moment, walk outside, stand there in silence, look up at the sky, and contemplate how amazing life is.”
Last summer I was on the beach looking for shells when I stopped to talk to a couple of ladies doing the same thing. After a bit, I told them about my blog. Late last year I reconnected on Facebook with an “old” NC neighbor I had not seen in over 20 years. Funny thing, I commented on one of her posts and one of the ladies I had met on the beach also commented, asking how we knew each other, as she is friends with my “old” neighbor. And another high school friend chimed in as well that she too is friends with her. We all “re-met” through a facebook post, discovering we had a common friend. It is a small world.
“Internet has made the world a small town again.” Ana White
Years ago, my boss brought around a former employee of his who was back in Charlottesville visiting family and introduced her to me because she had moved to NC. When I asked her where she moved to in NC, she said, “Oh a little town called Clemmons.” “WHAT?!? I lived in Clemmons for 40 years! Where in Clemmons?” “A great neighborhood called Waterford.” “WHAT?!? I lived in Waterford!” It gets better… she moved into a house about 4 down from mine, was working at the school my kids had attended, and she had met all of my friends. In essence, she and I had exchanged lives. It is a small world.
“People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.”
I do believe people cross our paths for a reason. I don’t believe it is an accident when in this huge world, someone comes into our life, or leaves our life. We may need them for assistance, guidance, support, joy, or just a lesson. And when that has been fulfilled, their time in our life could be over, and they leave. But we have benefited and grown from the experience. Cherish it. Learn from it. I look back on my life and see people who have been there for me at different times, and people for whom I have been there. And then our lives may go in different directions, sometimes intersecting again, sometimes not. But what is meant to be will happen. And we will be better for it. I know I have been and continue to be blessed by the people in my life.
“Sometimes we need someone to simply be there. Not to fix anything, or to do anything in particular, but just to let us feel that we are cared for and supported.”
Last week we had snow flurries on Thursday and 80 degrees on Saturday. My daughter and son-in-law came to town to be here for the birth my of my son-in-law’s brother and his wife’s sweet baby girl. Made for a fun weekend for me with them! Another sleepover at mom’s with my daughter and then a good, long run Saturday morning that did not feel like a small world! After a brewery lunch, we headed to the baseball game between UNC and UVA. Double header. And Carolina won both! WOOHOO! First time they have won a baseball game up here that I attended. The baby waited through Thursday night…Friday and Friday night… and waited until Carolina won the double header before making her entrance into the world late Saturday night. She did this to benefit my son-in-law. She’s already a smart girl!
“Being there for a friend is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Another one is allowing them to be there for you, too.” ~Doe Zantamata
Go out and explore our world. Acknowledge, embrace, and cherish all the small world events that happen in your life. Be a big person in a small world, because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.
Best,
Leslie
SOLO at SIXTY 
As usual, a delight in reading your blog. It always inspires me and makes me look at life different in so many ways. Keep up the good work. Thank you and look forward to seeing you on our work day at HOA. Have a safe trip.
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