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                              Six Degrees of FAU

Not only is it a small world, but it's a self-intersecting one too.

The first time I realized this was 9^th grade at the local bus stop. Half way
through the year a new kid shows up at our stop and in overhearing a
conversation I learn he's from North Carolina, which I felt was very cool
since that's where I was from (more or less—we moved to North Carolina when I
was five, then moved here to Lower Sheol (and I had yet to forgive my Mom
this transgression) when I was ten; I was hardly from North Carolina) and
wanting to know more, I asked him where he moved from.

“Brevard [1],” he said.

I could not believe it—I too was from Brevard. Upon further discussion we
realized we knew the same set of kids too! We hadn't met because his family
moved there about a year after we moved away.

Small world.

Today was another realization of the self-intersecting nature of this world.

I met my friend Ken D. at FAU (Florida Atlatic University) [2] to buy a
telescope from him. I had met him only last year through one of the gaming
groups I attend. We were in the parking lot talking about the changes to the
campus since I last attended (oh, perhaps a good six to seven years or so),
pointing out the hideous designs of the new buildings and the renovations of
existing buildings (the Biology building [3] had been completely gutted) when
talk turned to Flemming Hall [4].

No, it had not been renovated yet, “and it still looks the same when I
attended summer classes there in '86,” said Ken. “In 10^th grade, I took part
of a summer program they offered here.”

I could not believe it—I too participated in that same program (only I was in
11^th grade). Turns out we took at least two classes together, or at least
the same classes but possibly at different times. I don't remember him, and I
don't think he remember me, but still, it's a wierd feeling when my past
comes crashing into the present at such odd moments.

[1] http://www.brevardnc.com/
[2] http://www.fau.edu/
[3] http://www.fau.edu/map/images/bs.htm
[4] http://www.fau.edu/map/images/fl.htm

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