In 1964, the World Fair took place in New York. Walt Disney was in charge of the “Children of the World” tent. When the fair was done, Walt Disney set up the It’s a Small World attraction at Disneyland. He contacted Richard and Robert Sherman to write a song. The rest is history.
I had never given much thought to the phrase, It’s a Small World. I remember hearing the song and singing it in school, but I didn’t understand what it meant. Not till later.
Growing up in a small town, everybody knows everybody. They know who you are, where you live and your parents’ name and so forth. Your hometown is your world.
I was dating Scott and we’re going to meet with a school buddy nicknamed, ‘Earl.” We get there and Scott introduces me, only to find out, we knew each other. We went to school together in Buffalo until the third grade and he moved to Monticello. I didn’t know him by his nickname, so I was pleasantly surprised. My first dose of It’s a Small World started.
There was a story that mom told about a trip her and dad took out west in the 90’s.
They were heading to Spokane and stopped in Idaho. I don’t recall exactly where they were, a restaurant or the lodge, but they started talking with this guy. He was friendly and asked where they were from? Dad said, “You probably won’t know of the place, but Buffalo, MN.” He said, “I’m from there.” He introduced himself and said he was a classmate of mine. Who would have thought, thousand of miles away from home, there was a connection?
Recently, Scott stopped in at a local paint store. A lady in front of him was asking the clerk if he could recommend a painter. He responded, “Yes, the one standing right behind you.” Scott gave his number and left. She contacted him to see if he could stop by her place in Buffalo and give her an estimate. I knew the last name and went with.
I was talking with her as Scott was measuring. We talked about some of my relatives that knew some of her in-laws in Buffalo.
I asked her about a friend of ours that lived down the road. “Did you know him?” She said, “Yes.” We talked about what a nice guy he was – always friendly.
“Where did you go to school?” She replied, “Monticello.” I said, ‘Scott is from Monticello, what year did you graduate?” She told me and it was the same year Scott had graduated. She left Monticello after junior high and graduated up north. What would be the odds of Scott and her being at the paint store at the same time? Two classmates, 40 some years later reconnect. To say we were surprised would be an understatement.
In today’s world, I find some social media has brought about friendships in a good way and a chance to connect with people from all over. Like a pen pal.
I have a couple of friends from Africa, one from Honduras, one from Brazil and a classmate in Amsterdam. I enjoy learning of life in their country and they enjoy learning about mine. Our lives are different, but some of our values and thoughts are similar.
Is it just a coincidence or is there something more? I can’t but help notice how intertwined our lives are. We come from different walks and yet there is a sense of commonality.
It’s a world of laughter, A world of tears, A world of hopes and A world of fears, There’s so much that we share, That it’s time we’re aware, It’s a Small World after all.
I couldn’t agree more.
