My "small world" event happened this past weekend at an EWGA semi-finals golf tournament in Bonita Springs, Fl. After getting my butt kicked in our practice round by a course that ate up golf balls like they were buttered popcorn, I went to dinner with the two women I had driven over with from my Miami Chapter.
During dinner we were sharing histories and getting to know each other and one of the women, who had grown up in California, said that she used to go to Ohio (where I am from) to visit relatives in Youngstown, where her father grew up. Wow, we marveled over the fact that I grew up in Youngstown for a while and the fact that I knew where her grandparents lived and that she knew many places I knew. Then she commented that they also would visit Bessemer, Pa. all the time. What?? That is where my father was from! A little tiny community with a lot of Swedish immigrants. She asked my father's name and I told her Nord. She said that was odd, her mother's best friend was a Dorothy Nord who had even been to her house in Miami when her mother was very ill from cancer years ago. Bingo. This is my aunt! She was married to my father's brother. Well, we were just amazed and discussed all our common memories. She went to the same Presbyterian Church that my father's family belonged to when she visited (she even recalled Rev. Picklesheimer - who's widow married two of my uncles in sequence making her name Pauline Picklesheimer Nord Nord, much to the niece and nephews merriment), she swam in the same quarry, etc. She even recalled the house and street her grandmother lived in. The next day, she said that she had had trouble falling asleep thinking of the coincidences, and I did too!
Jan, my friend, is going to recollect names and I am going to call my remaining living Aunt Betty who, despite being in her 90's, has absolutely phenomenal recall, to see what she remembers of the Benson's from Bessemer.
We had such a fun weekend. I have plugged EWGA (which stands for Executive Women's Golf Assn.) before because it is a wonderful organization and a great way to meet bright and interesting women. And the golf events, leagues and opportunities to play are outstanding. You want to learn to play golf by the rules? Join this organization. They are not all perfect, by any means, because competition can bring out an ugly side in people. But, most are wonderful, and they love to have fun. At the awards luncheon, after the tournament, the bar at the resort golf course actually ran out of white wine. Because these women love to PARTY! There was loud whooping, and cheering and friendly inter Chapter teasing,. The Naples Chapter chanted "drum roll" and a winner from their Chapter had to roll on the floor back to their table with her trophy. It was a hoot. And now, I have a new friend who shares a bit of history with me. Cool!
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