I've had the oddest experience this week. I received 2 emails from complete strangers who contacted me because of something I'd written on dKos. And oddly enough, they were from old diaries. It's amazing how lasting our words are. The diaries that provoked the emails were not in the forefront of my mind. I hadn't forgotten them but much has happened here and in real life so they were a part of the past. But lo! They live on.
Got a Happy Story is a community gathering every Friday night where we share stories large and small that have put a smile on our face. It is a time to acknowledge the joy and wonder we experience. The Happy Story diary exists as a way to anchor the community in hope and comfort while we do the hard work of taking back our country. Everyone and all sorts of stories and pictures are welcome. May we find joy and strength here.
The first email I received was from a woman who'd read a comment I wrote back in December on World AIDS day. I mentioned someone I knew who was lost to AIDS back in the dark days before AZT. I talked a little about how much I admired him and about the lasting impact he had on my life. He was a remarkable person in so many ways.
The woman wrote to inquire whether this was the same person Bob Andrews that she knew. She had been going through her things and came across a booklet for Bob Andrew's memorial service. I was at that service and read Bob's words from an interview that I did with him for a college paper. I lost contact with Bob's partner Steve long ago so it was nice to be contacted by someone who also remembers him more than 20 years later.
The second email was from a woman who came across my Feminisms diary from June. It was a tome on the 1975 Women's National Rowing Team, Title IX, and the Yale Strip In. It was a labor of love and a painstakingly researched diary. I'll always be grateful to Elise for allowing me to post in her series.
This woman wrote to inquire whether I knew how to get in contact with one of the rowers from the 1975 Crew. She had been coached years later by one of the rowers. She was looking to contact her and let her know how important the rower/coach had been in this woman's life. With my knowledge from my past research and a bit more googling, I was able to provide the woman with an address. Coincidentally, that rower/coach is now living about 30 minutes from where I grew up. I'm glad to be a bridge for them to renew acquaintances.
How these women found my long ago diary and longer ago comment is beyond me. A quick google of the rower's name doesn't show my diary in the first 10 pages. Googling the rower's name with rowing shows my diary on the bottom of the 4th page. So the odds were pretty small.
As for Bob, googling his name, his name and AIDS, and his name and the MGH unit named for him doesn't show my diary in the first 10 pages. So the odds are even smaller.
Both of these encounters put a smile on my face. I'm happy that inconsequential words of mine were able to be of help to others. I'll have to be more cognizant of my writing since I have no idea where it will land.
So, any odd encounters of your own to report? And any happy stories on any topic to share?