Who Needs Six Degrees?

This is Kevin Bacon saying, "That's amazing, Phil!"

You like “small world” scenarios? This one’s a doozy! Allow me to set the stage. I am renting a room from Rozanne, a woman in Encinitas, California. I live here with Rozanne and her son, Chris, who’s a decade younger than I am. It’s a wonderful situation and we all get along beautifully.

Occasionally, Rozanne will rent the smaller bedroom out to someone else for a short stay. That’s how I met Lana today. She lives in Denver but is staying at Rozanne’s for a few days. As I was going out the door, Rozanne introduced us and mentioned I was from Minnesota. Lana said, “Oh, I’m originally from Minnesota too.” When I asked where in Minnesota, she said she had grown up in White Bear Lake. “Are you kidding?” I said. “I grew up in White Bear Lake too!”

If that weren’t a big enough coincidence—the fact that two people from White Bear Lake, Minnesota are the only two renters in a house two thousand miles away in Encinitas, California—I called Kerri, my old next-door neighbor and one of my bestest friends who still lives in the White Bear area. I asked Kerri if she knew anyone by Lana’s last name. Hello! It turns out that Kerri’s husband’s aunt and uncle, who also happen to be his godparents, are Fran and Roger, who are also Lana’s aunt and uncle.

Kevin Bacon would be proud!

ABOUT PHIL BOLSTA

Phil is the author of Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything, a collection of 45 inspiring, life-changing stories from prominent people he interviewed, including Joan Borysenko, Deepak Chopra, geneticist Dr. Francis Collins, acclaimed sportswriter Frank Deford, Dr. Larry Dossey, Wayne Dyer, Dan Millman, Caroline Myss, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Dr. Bernie Siegel, James Van Praagh, singer Billy Vera, Doreen Virtue, Neale Donald Walsch, and bassist Victor Wooten.

Here is a three-minute video that introduces you to Phil and his book. Click here to buy Sixty Seconds. Click here to ask Phil to add you to his e-mail list for updates on his blog and books.

Reading this book is like spending a few minutes face to face with each of the contributors and listening to their personal stories. Click here to read unsolicited testimonials from readers. Learn more by visiting the official Sixty Seconds website.

Sixty Seconds was one of three finalists in the General Interest/How-To category at the 12th annual Visionary Awards presented by COVR (Coalition of Visionary Resources) in Denver on June 27, 2009.

Tags: coincidence, six degrees of separation