Life… It’s amazing how things happen. 

When I was in junior high, I tried out for the 8th grade basketball team. I had to go one-on-one against a kid who seemed like he was already 6’4” while I was 4’8” or so. I did my best Curly Neal/Harlem Globetrotter impression and dribbled around him. I thought  I’d drive past him and do a lay up. He had other plans. 

As I shot the ball towards the rim, he blocked it into the stands. I think it bounced all the way to the top of the bleachers. It was embarrassing. The coach said, “NEXT!” That was the last time I played team sports. 

I played “midget” football in the past and some community basketball when I was a kid,  but at that time I was really trying to be on my school team. As a result of my rejection and humiliation, I spent my time from that point practicing drums. 

He essentially blocked me from going down the wrong path. I was never going to be in the NBA or NFL. It’s interesting how my hoop dreams stopped when I didn’t make the junior high basketball team. Apparently it was a good thing. 

Two days ago, I get a direct message on Instagram from this woman. I check with a mutual friend to see if he knew her and he said that she went to junior high with us. I barely remembered her. I’m skeptical of people who I don’t know reaching out to me on social media, but it turned out to be just fine.

Her message said that she and her husband were at my show and wanted to meet up afterward. 

It’s true that we really didn’t know each other, but we all knew the same people from back then. 

As we were chatting, I told her the story about the  junior high basketball tryout and why I am playing drums for a living. 

The next day, she told me that guy who blocked me was her brother. 

Small world. Nice to re-meet you Nilda!

I love these kinds of connections and reminders.