Coincidence Upon Coincidence

On my very first visit to New York City, I visited the Hotel McAlpin for a comic book convention that was being held there. I approached the elevator. The elevator door opened, and I was greeted by a man who extended his hand for a handshake.

“William Stout!” said the man who shook my hand. It was Gordon Connell, the talented father of my (Los Angeles) band’s bass player, Melissa Connell. Gordon is a musical comedy actor. He was appearing at the hotel’s dinner theater. 

This was my first trip to New York; Gordon, like me, lived in Los Angeles at the time. What are the odds in that city of over eight million people? But that’s not the big coincidence, believe it or not.

Ten years later, I was back again in New York for a second visit. While walking down Columbus Avenue with my fiancé, I was telling her the story of my extraordinary Gordon Connell coincidence. When I got to the part of the story in which Gordon extends his hand and says “William Stout,” I reached over a railing at an outdoor restaurant and said, “Gordon Connell!” and extended my own hand to shake the hand of Gordon Connell, who was sitting there, having his lunch.