Found Friends

One Friday evening, Linda and I were at John J. Jeffries for dinner, seated at the bar as usual. It was a pretty busy night but we had empty seats on both sides. A couple came in and we offered to slide down in order for them to sit together. Pleasantries were exchanged and it was quickly realized that they were not locals, in fact they were from Sydney, Australia. Robert and Wendy Quinn were extremely nice and a robust conversation ensued.

Robert was and remains a runner, most recently competing in the New York marathon. After the race he and Wendy traveled to Gettysburg as they are both history buffs. I relayed our interest in Gettysburg and the many times we have visited the battlefield, including trips with my mother as a child when she was participating in the 1960’s reenactments as a member and President of the Patriot Daughters, the women’s auxiliary to the local militia reenactors, The Fencibles.

They were heading to Boston this weekend and had stopped in to J Jeffries on a whim, as they drove past. Wendy worked at a hospital and Robert worked for the Australian division of New Holland Machine.

Our conversation never lagged as we all felt an affinity for each other. The hostess then came to take the Quinn’s to their table for dinner. Linda and I were both deflated on their leaving, it had been as if we had known this couple for years. I suggested to Linda that we ask if they would like to accompany us to Central Market and breakfast the next morning per our regular routine.

They readily accepted the offer and we arranged to pick them up the next morning. That night, I thought about their visit and interest in Gettysburg and history in general. I collected a few things, a minie ball found at Gettysburg, (I had two), postcards from the 60’s, picturing the aforementioned Patriot Daughters and Fencibles and a very nice arrowhead from Lancaster County. Courtesy of Linda’s family we had 50 or so arrowheads. The Prince Street Coffee shop where we were going to breakfast is across the street from the Fulton Opera House, I intended to relate the story of the Paxtang Boys and the massacre of the Indians that they had perpetrated on that sight, hence the arrowhead.

After a tour of Central Market and our purchase of our weekly produce we proceeded to the coffee shop. Conversation was just as lively and friendly as the evening before. At times we had difficulty with their accents, but they graciously repeated what we were missing. I told them about the Paxtang Boys and afterward presented the “artifacts”. I said, “I’m not sure if you want this, you can toss it in the trash at the hotel, saying what makes these crazy Americans think we would want this crap, whatever you want.” They seemed to be happy with the gift and we continued with ours conversation, eventually leaving to return them to the hotel, Parting as they say is such sweet sorrow and we were truly sadden to part ways with this wonderful couple.

After that fateful weekend we have kept in touch via Facebook, texts and phone calls, traditional and video. We exchanged Christmas gifts and they sent a plush toy on the birth of our third grandchild, Eli. They eventually framed and displayed the gifts that we had given them.

Five years later Robert calls and says, they were visiting Hawaii in order to run a race in Honolulu. He mentions, “Hawaii is midway between Sydney and Lancaster, you should join us“. After very little thought we accepted. Linda and I decided to combine the week in Hawaii with a week In Los Angeles, visiting our son Jared.

Upon arriving and checking into our mutual hotel, The Laylow Autograph, in Waikiki, we met them in the outside rooftop lounge. Linda and I had discussed how this would all work out, after all, though we did have that instant connection with the Quinns, we had really only spent a minimal amount of time together. What if we, or they, discovered that we really weren’t that compatible, it would make for a long week.

Our apprehension proved to be unfounded. We had a great week, zip lining, exploring Waikiki, dinners, flying to the Big Island and touring the the volcanos and lava fields. The Quinns were staying on the Big Island and we were returning to Honolulu for the rest of the week. Upon depositing us at the airport, they presented us with a beautiful book of Australian stories for the grandchildren. Both Linda and I were teary as we parted.

As the years have rolled on, the Quinns have remained close and dear friends, a number of coincidences or similarities have been discovered

Both Robert and I are right handed, but play golf left handed

A liberal leaning and a dry, sometimes sarcastic humor. While Robert and I zip lined in Hawaii, we were asked numerous times how we became friends, in a total dead pan and a bit of an affectation, Robert would answer, “We met in a bar”

When driving in Kona, we found Wendy and Linda both have similar complaints about Robert’s and my driving, in particular, our parking. Wendy exclaimed, “Robert must park as far away as possible.” Exactly what Linda has numerously remarked.

Robert once texted me, wishing us a happy 4th of July, and asking how was everything. As we were in the depths of a heat wave, I replied with a video of Robin Williams in “Good Morning Vietnam” proclaiming, “It’s HOT, DAMN HOT.” Robert immediately replied with a picture of himself wearing a “Good Morning Vietnam” t-shirt that he was wearing at that exact moment.

This only scratches the surface, but this chance encounter at a bar has led to life long friends. We can’t wait to get together with them again.