David: Chance Encounter?

As Allan and I walked downtown to shop for produce at Paddy's Market in downtown Sydney last Sunday, I kept having this feeling that I was going to run into someone I knew. But how could that be? There are 4.2 million people living in Sydney. And who would I know, anyway? Perhaps I would run into one of the guys that rented the chalet at the Lodge 10 years ago--I think 2 of them were from Australia...but would I even recognize them? And 20 years ago, I heard that my old boyfriend Joe moved here, but would he still be here?
Keeping alert as we strolled along, shifting through the crowds, I kept looking at faces, wondering if I would recognize someone around the next corner. Allan and I picked out some fruit, then weighed in on whether asparagus would be good for dinner, or how about Japanese eggplant? (Forget about organic at this market. We've been trying to buy organic here like we do at home, but we know that eventually, we'll have to give that up...so this was our first attempt to shop 'conventional'.) With two full bags of produce, we left the market and headed back toward Hyde Park, aiming home. A crowd was gathered at the park for a wine tasting event, and there was also live music, so we decided to take a break at a picnic bench, and eat our traditional lunch of PB&J with a banana while we enjoyed the shade, trees, and people watching.
After lunch, we decided to use the Port-O-Potties they had set up for the crowds. (Which were quite impressive--they had a spring loaded cover at the bottom of the toilet bowl that kept odors contained below.) Walking towards the exit, Allan said he wanted to look at the ANZAC monument being restored, so we headed that way. Immediately, I noticed a black guy sitting on the steps, talking on the phone. In an instant, I recognized his smile; it was Joe, my first boyfriend from over 20 years ago! He recognized me as I approached, and for a moment, we just stared at each other in disbelief! Could it really be? We hadn't kept in touch, so this was quite a surprise! We both started laughing, and I hate to admit it, but he looked exactly the same. (Can't say the same for me!) It's as if he'd been kept in a time capsule all these years! I introduced him to Allan, (who was trying to figure out why I walked with such intent towards what he thought was a complete stranger!) and we stood and talked in the blaring sun for about 30 minutes. I entered his contact information in my cell phone (forgetting to take a photo to document this event--ugh!) and we said we'd make a plan to get together in a few days.
As Allan and I continued our walk home, I realized that today was March 1. I had first met Joe on March 1, 1986, which I remember because it was the day I participated in the Great Peace March event held in Los Angeles. So we meet again, exactly 23 years later in Sydney! Life is really amazing.

The following Tuesday, I met Joe near our apartment, and he took me to Manly Beach. It's a popular beach that you reach by ferry, so the ride in the harbour was really great to experience. We talked pretty much non-stop the entire 6 hours we were together, stopping occasionally to enjoy the sun, the sand, and the beautiful coastline. We both apologized for things we'd done to each other back then, acknowledging how we were both just kids. We shared our history of the past 20 years, and how we came to be at the place we found ourselves now. It was an experience that seemed to be out of the movies. (He says hello to everyone in my family, by-the-way!)
Joe escorted me half way home on the train, and then we said our goodbyes, making loose plans to get together for dinner before Allan and I leave Sydney. (Joe has lived in Sydney for the past 20 years.)
What are the odds? What does it mean? It's something for me to contemplate.....