“Six degrees of separation” is a concept that tries to show that everybody is connected to everybody else by just six steps.
The observation, of about 1994 vintage, is also called “Six degrees of Kevin Bacon,” the “Footloose” actor who’s been in just about every other movie. The task, when it became a game, would be to show a connection between any actor and Bacon.
Perhaps the other actor had a small part in a movie whose hairdresser was the third cousin to the chauffeur who transported the oldest aunt of Sandra Bullock to a cafe for a date with Kevin Bacon.
Non-actors as well try to connect with one another in the fewest steps possible. The practice is also called the Small World Syndrome. It’s fun.
Though these attempts occurred long before the Bacon hit the skillet, I’ve experienced similar coincidences that have made me wonder how, of all the people in the world, all the cities in the world, all the times in the world, I’d meet up with people I knew.
Let me explain:
Back in the dark ages, when I lived in suburban Chicago, I went into the city in the hopes of meeting David Condon, the renowned sports editor of the Chicago Tribune. I invited my girlfriend, Carol, along. We struck out — I should have called ahead — as Mr. Condon was off that day. Before moving to the Midwest, a number of people had told me about how David Condon was a Las Vegas product; his family owned Condon Coal Co., on Railroad, merely three blocks from my house.
Undaunted, Carol and I took in the sights. She promised to show me where State Street meets Madison Avenue, at the time, said to be the busiest pedestrian intersection in the U.S. Seeing it left me no doubts at all. On the way, I made out the face of a person I’d known for years in Las Vegas, Eddie Groth. Eddie was attending a conference in the Windy City. At the time, Groth did sports information for Highlands, and as I had been on the Optic staff a few years before moving, I’d run many of his sports articles and features.
So I wondered: What are the chances, out of the thousands of people at this beehive intersection, of seeing a familiar face? He too was surprised. We chatted for a few minutes, and as we parted, I kept marveling aloud at the coincidence, repeating for the 20th time, “It’s so fitting that we met Eddie and his wife on, of all places, State and Madison.”
Well, Carol popped my balloon in saying, “It wasn’t exactly State and Madison where we saw them; it was actually Michigan and Madison.” Ah, Michigan, Schmichigan. What’s the difference?
But wait, there’s more.
Maybe 20 years ago, my family was invited to the wedding of my niece, who was to tie the knot aboard the Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach, Calif. I didn’t attend, but my parents and my brother and sister did. Mom told me, when they returned to New Mexico, that while on the ship, she kept hearing someone hollering “Mrs. Trujillo.” The caller turned out to be Sara Harris, who with her husband Jay, was on board for another function.
The coincidence should end there, but I told you there’s more.
Sara (yes, the same Sara) sent me an e-mail last week in which she wrote, in part, “Jay and I just returned from a cruise with around 3,200 people, which sailed out of Miami with its destination being Rome. Well, we competed in a Battle of the Sexes game and were asked our names and where we were from.
“After the show, a gentleman and his wife introduced themselves to us and said that they were from Albuquerque. Their names are Chris and Dolores Sánchez, y, entre plática y plática, it turns out that he is related to you. They were very lovely people, and it was always a pleasure to run into them on the ship. Anyway, it is a small world.”
It’s not exactly Six Degrees of Separation, but it highlights our belief that there are indeed coincidences.
As for the Harrises, who spotted members of my family — twice — while miles and oceans away from Las Vegas, well, maybe they should open up a detective agency, or work for Google Earth, or even operate a modest Lost and Found shop.
• • •
Dozens of people sweated off pounds during the recently concluded 2010 Mayor’s Fitness Challenge at the City Recreation Center.
Participants competed in three women’s and three men’s age categories. The winners:
Women 16-35: 1. Anita Gonzales, 2. Catherine Jaramillo, 3. Kirsten Loar; 36-55: 1. Debbie Martinez, 2. Stephanie Gonzales, 3. Joyce LeDoux; 56-80: 1. M. Maxine Maes, 2. Ida Lujan, 3. Rosita Ellis.
Men 16-35: 1. Michael Padilla, 2. Louis Romero, 3. Abenicio Baldonado; 36-55: George R. Romero, 2. James Montoya, 3. Jerry Herrera; 56-80: 1. Carlos Thomas.
Overall champion: Alex Aragon (but not the Alex Aragon who chairs the planning and zoning committee. There are five people with that name in this city).
• • •
My family takes a car trip west about once a year. The next trip may have to be by air. And that trip assuredly, will fly over, but not stop in, any part of Arizona.
Is my rant childish, impetuous? Perhaps, but the Arizona governor’s signing of S.B. 1070 was cruel, hasty, discriminatory and destined to wreak lots of havoc.
Two questions: Did you ever meet David Condon and did you participate in the Mayor’s Fitness program?
Yes to both. I got invited to the Old-Timers Baseball Reunion, an annual event in Chicago where the menu was corned beef and cabbage and beer. It was at the Pick-Congress Hotel, and for some weird reason, the county sheriff was the host. I attended with several other newspapermen from the Western DuPage County. During the break I got to visit with him briefly, telling him I had been familiar with the Condon Coal Company. Do you remember it? Right next to the Dawson Coal Company.
As for the fitness program, yes, I entered it. I got a second place in my division the first time I entered, but this time didn’t get squat! The organizer said there is no trophy or certificate for those to ADD weight.
Eddie Groth told me about Dave Condon when I was quizzing him about my hoops book. (Yes, it is still in progress). He told me Condon sometimes wrote stories about Wagon Mound, which Groth said was his real home town and school, I believe. He would often compare the WM Trojans with Chicago teams, as in: “If the Bears win one game against the Packers, they will have won one more than Wagon Mound has.” I made up the team names, but you get the drive. If you have any old columns by Condon, involving NM, I’d love to see them.
Interesting, Ben. Yes, I remember Dave Condon mentioning Wagon Mound. I used to wonder why he’d mention that village. I didn’t know what was his home town.