There are times I am amazed at what appear to be coincidences, but are – I think – something larger, something that comes from the power and energy of thoughts focused on another person. Case in point, this story.
I have a framed costume rendering in my upstairs bathroom from my days in graduate school. Impossible to get a good photo because it’s dark outside and the bathroom is teeny-tiny, but here it is.
I played a character named Kleopatra in Diary of a Scoundrel, a play by Alexander Ostrovsky. She was an older woman who was, how do I put it…..? Oversexed. It was a comedy and a lot of fun and at one point I chased a younger man around a pouf (a round settee that would be placed in the middle of a room) until I collapsed, skirt hiked, bloomers showing. That white satin material was used for the bloomers.
These bloomers, which I have passed on to Letitia, my vintage dress form and which I could never hope to get into again. I was very skinny in those days.
My friend, Richard, who was studying costume design at Temple, designed the dress, the bloomers, all of my costumes. He somehow managed to misplace those bloomers and strangely enough they ended up in my possession. Sort of like Don’s hat and eye patch ended up here with us in the cottage.
Richard and I were close friends during our time at Temple and for several years afterward. When I graduated, I was doing temp office work to pay my rent. I had very little money. Richard began working for the Opera Company of Philadelphia and he got me in there as a makeup artist. When an opera was being staged and produced, I did the makeup for the chorus. That’s where I got to see Pavarotti sing, watch him direct and, secretly, look at the huge mum-muu like costume pieces he wore. (One incident might have involved both of us donning one of his shirts with room to spare.) The extra money I earned was a blessing.
There was a publication called ArtSearch (still is) that listed job openings in the performing arts, with a focus on universities. I wanted to teach at a university, but one had to subscribe to ArtSearch and receive it in the mail in order to have any idea what jobs were being listed. I was so poor that I couldn’t afford it. So how would I ever know about job openings?
Richard surprised me and gave me a subscription as a gift and that subscription led to my first job at Boston University and the rest of my career. I am ever grateful to him.
After I moved to Boston and then on to San Diego, we touched base occasionally but, as happens, our lives were on different tracks and many years went by without contact. Two weeks ago, I was in that bathroom and looked at the rendering, thought of Richard, and decided I had to Google him and find out where he was so that I could write him. For various reasons, a few days went by and I hadn’t followed through.
I opened my email the next week and saw a message that had come to me via my professional website.
It was from Richard. He had tracked me down. We had been thinking of each other at the same time. It was such a delightful surprise that our thoughts had reached out to each other across and through the ether. We have now reconnected and I was able to thank him again for all he did for me many, many years ago. He’s well. He’s married. He’s happy. He’s still working and teaching.
I’m very happy about that.
I thought you might like that story.
The limelight hydrangeas are in bloom.
As is the liatris.
And that’s a teeny tiny little bug on that coneflower.
Happy Friday.
kathy in iowa says
i do like that story (thanks for sharing it)!
how wonderful that you and richard have reconnected after many years. as you’ve heard me say, i don’t believe in coincidences. i can’t know if there is some other purpose behind that reconnection (as in more jobs), but if it is “only” for the continuation of a friendship, then that is sweet and enough!
i am glad, too, that you and don have costume pieces as souvenirs from various productions you’ve been in. :)
hope you both have a great weekend!
kathy in iowa
Claudia says
Oh, at this point, I don’t care about jobs. I’m simply thrilled to reconnect with him.
kathy in iowa says
meant to add that i’ve been checking don’s instagram account and enjoy his photos ,too, and see his progress! go, don, go!
and love that he quoted jimmy in the most recent post of a camera and suitcase with a “paris” sticker on it! :)
kathy in iowa
Claudia says
Yay Don!
kathy in iowa says
hey … thought about my comment regarding don’s photos. please don’t take my ‘seeing progress’ as a knock against his earlier photos … they’ve all been lovely (and way better than i could ever take, especially with such complicated cameras) … what i was trying to say is that his photos are getting even lovelier!
good thing it’s friday … think i need a much-needed nap! :)
kathy in iowa
Claudia says
No offense taken at all! It’s not easy to figure everything out on the Crown Graphic. It’s heavy and all the settings need to become familiar, plus lighting and apertures, etc. And the viewfinder shows something slightly different than the lens so that adjustment has to be made. It’s a learning process for sure! Plus, the whole thing is “Only one shot at a good photo.”
Judy A says
To Kathy in iowa, I’m so glad I get to read your comments,I am the exact same way!
I’m always second guessing, if my compliment,or comment,sounds like something else which I did not mean!! LOL lol. Judy A (in Utah)
kathy in iowa says
to judy a …
i am in a hurry when commenting here because most often i am at work (like right now … sshhhh!) or i am trying to write something before the office opens. other times, like today when i reply two times to my own comment, maybe i just need a nap or to at least slow down and read something before i click “post comment”. ha! either way, thanks for your understanding.
hope all’s well for you and yours in Utah!
kathy in iowa
Tana says
Happy stories? YES!!! Loved this one. Sometimes friends from long ago pop into my mind and I wonder if they ever think of me. Maybe they do. Maybe I should try to look them up when I think of them. I have reconnected with a college friend I hadn’t seen in 50 years. We got together for a few days and that was so much fun. Our story continues!
Claudia says
I think that when our memories of a person tug at us, it may be a sign that we should get in contact with them! So glad you reconnected with your college friend!
shanna says
Oh, I love that story—and the rendering! That must have been one beautiful costume! It’s amazing how reconnections can happen. (For all of its faults, social networking can be wonderful, at times.) Thanks for the story and for the great floral shots today.
Claudia says
Yes. As much as the internet and social media can drive us buggy, it’s times like this one when I so appreciate it!
Monica says
Great story! Thanks for sharing. I’ve always wanted one of those dress forms. Very cool.
Take care,
Monica
Claudia says
I love Letitia – named after my favorite aunt.
Donnamae says
Yes…I do like that story! I’m a firm believer that people come into and out of our lives for a reason. I’m thrilled you were able to reconnect with Richard.
Ah…limelights. It was because of you, that I ventured into the care and feeding of hydrangeas…so glad I did. I have several bushes…and all are blooming. I even bought a new dwarf limelight this spring…for a specific spot.
For a little one, it’s blooming its heart out!
Hope the rain has stopped….enjoy your day! ;)
Claudia says
Oh, a dwarf hydrangea! How neat!
Linda @ A La Carte says
What a wonderful story! So lovely to reconnect with past friends . Wonderful to think your thoughts and his were reaching out to each other. Bloomers, hat and eye patch sweet treasures.
Claudia says
We have a few more costume souvenirs around here! Don often does a play with contemporary costumes and he buys the pieces at a discount! He now has more clothes than me!
Cathy S. says
Love your story of reconnecting with your friend. Long time friends are the greatest!
Claudia says
Thank you, Cathy!
Dottie says
Lovely story! I personally do not believe in coincidences. I believe everything happens for a reason. My husband just reconnected with an old friend from his Air Force years via Facebook. He hadn’t seen or talked to him in 48 years; they had a great phone conversation. Love the bloomers; do you have any pictures of you in the full costume?
Claudia says
I do but I have no idea where they are – packed away somewhere in the shed, I suppose!
Margaret says
You’re right: I like that story very much. Synchronicity.
Claudia says
Yes!
Margaret says
Just remembered, apropos costumes, my wonderful old raccoon coat (no fur now, but this was fifty plus years ago.) I worked as business manager for a small legitimate theater in a tiny town in Connecticut. Our plays were put on by companies out of New York and were complete packages, so we had no wardrobe or props departments (although we sometimes had to forage for bits and bobs.) Not realizing this, a local woman brought in armloads of vintage clothing one day and I fell in love with the 1920s raccoon coat. The theater manager, a wonderful man named Dick Scanga, picked up the coat, put it on me and said,”It’s yours.”
Claudia says
A neat story, Margaret!
Linda P. says
I, too, loved that story.
Claudia says
Thank you, Linda!
Siobhan says
It is wonderful to hear you have reconnected with your friend- the internet at its best- reading your blog and ig account ( and Don’s) has inspired and given me hope in some dark days- 4 weeks today since I lost my darling girl
Siobhan
Claudia says
Thinking of you, Siobhan. Much love.
tammy j says
beautiful! in so many ways.
thank you for sharing it. I have an East Indian friend who calls that synchronicity!
and to come here and be uplifted today is just lovely. XO
Claudia says
Thank you, Tammy!
Sherry Hartman says
Lovely story. Thank you for sharing.
Claudia says
You are most welcome, Sherry!
Marilyn says
I love that story. So happy for you and Richard. Old friends are a treasure.
Marilyn
Claudia says
They are, indeed, Marilyn!
Debbie in Oregon says
What a wonderful story, I love it. You have lived an interesting and amazing life, Claudia! I love when you share tidbits, like this, with us.
Claudia says
Thank you, Debbie!
Joan says
What great story! Thanks for sharing.
The hydrangeas are great, too .Limelight. Perfect name due to your
profession. 🌝
Claudia says
Yes, indeed!
Nancy Blue Moon says
A sweet little story indeed Claudia!…I hope that the two of you can get together sometime and reminisce!
Claudia says
I do, too!
Chris K in Wisconsin says
Serendipity! The Universe works in marvelous ways!! It seems the more we put out there to think about, the more it rewards us.
Claudia says
Yes. I’m very happy to have heard from him!
Vicki says
Thank you for sharing this nice story.
And I’m reminded of the varied, interesting, rich-with-substance life you’ve led to now.
I will remember your opening paragraph: ‘There are times I am amazed at what appear to be coincidences, but are something larger, something that comes from the power and energy of thoughts focused on another person.’
I’ve often wondered the same thing but could never articulate it as succinctly as you just did. Things come to my mind: “God is a great deviser of stratagems.” Then there’s the concept of serendipity. Telepathy? All rather mysterious.
Although I should know something, I know nothing about him, but I heard it once said that Freud was quoted (on the subject of coincidence) as saying there ARE no accidents.
Claudia says
I think Mr. Freud was right!
Wendy T says
Wonderful! Don’t you just love ether(real) air waves?!?!
Claudia says
I do!