The Connection Warren-Watchung Edition April/May 2018

www.theconnectionsnj.com For over fifty years, Superior Custom Kitchens has been the area's premier source for: K itchens • B athrooms • B uilt-ins and more Let us show you why. 126 Mt. Bethel Road, Warren 908-753-6005 www.superiorcustomkitchens.com Full Service Remodels N.J. Contr actor Lic # 13VH0 0152900 COLIN MACMANUS GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor GARC Roofing Specialist $ 250 OFF NEW ROOF Expires 5/31/18. $ 250 OFF GUTTER INSTALLATION Expires 5/31/18. ROOFING • SIDING WINDOWS • GUTTERS 908-526-0072 cell: 732-266-7833 GreatAmericanRoofingCompanyNJ.com Warren, NJ While visiting my home town in January of this year, my good friend Mike and his wife, Linda, invited me over for dinner. As he knows, I am into what some call synchronicity, and he reminded me of a story he told me years ago. I insisted he doc- ument it. Enjoy. For many years, I told people that they could tell I was an Air Force “brat” because I was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Air Force Base there was established in 1957 when the city’s population was only around 30,000. I was surprised one day when a salesman at our company, Alan, heard me say this and replied, “Wait, are you messing with me? When did I tell you that I was born in Grand Forks?” I was surprised to learn that he was also born there three years before me, and that his father was employed by the Air Force. At the same company a couple of years later, in 2003, I was working on a contract with a paralegal, Jan, who noticed that I had a daruma doll on my desk, the same one pictured. This Japanese doll is traditionally used for good luck when beginning an impor- tant endeavor. I bought it in 1988 when I started a com- plex project working with our client, Nippon Tele- graph & Telephone (NTT). She asked if I had spent a lot of time in Japan and shared that her father was born there. She then men- tioned that her father was a natural- ized citizen and a career Air Force retiree. That triggered me to share my story involving Alan, who was a mutual acquaintance. She replied, “Wait – did I tell you that I was born in Grand Forks?” This would have all seemed rela- tively coincidental – three co-workers all born in a relatively small town in North Dakota, all with parents affili- ated with the Air Force – but then she mentioned that she had just celebrated her 40th birthday the week before. I told her that I had celebrated mine 10 days earlier. We were actually born 4 days apart, both in St. Michael’s Hospital in Grand Forks! To say that we were both shocked to learn this connec- tion is an understatement. I called my mother and shared my experience, asking her how long I stayed in the hospital after I was born. She replied, “You two were in the same birth ward of St. Michael’s Hospital at the same time – you stayed there a full week after you were born!” Reflecting back on the random nature of this exchange, something fascinating occurred to me: This “random connection” would never have occurred had I not bought a daruma doll when I started my proj- ect with NTT in Tokyo in 1988. Perhaps the daruma doll’s power is not just limited to good luck? DARUMA KARMA By: Dan Rosenberg PAGE 28 home & design