My first appointment this morning was a routine refinance with a really nice couple at their home on Seneca Lake.

They were friendly and we chatted about various things throughout the signing. I don’t remember exactly how the conversation wound its way to the wife mentioning that she was born in Oklahoma, but she did.

Which was weird, because I was also born in Oklahoma. When I said “believe it or not, I was born in Oklahoma” she replied with “oh really, where?”

I told her I was born in Altus Oklahoma, on the Air Force base. (Side note – I’m note really sure I was born on the base, but my dad was stationed there, so I was born somewhere in Altus.)

To that she replied “I was born and raised in Altus!”

I was shocked! Seneca Lake is a long way from Altus Oklahoma, and we were just random strangers brought together by a mortgage refinance signing.

To make matters ever more surprising, the husband mentioned that he was stationed at the base in Altus (a few years before I was born). He was one of the brave people in the missile silo’s during he Cuban missile crisis.

What a small world!

We spent some time after this discovery talking about Altus. My dad moved on from Altus when I was a baby, and I therefore have no recollection of the place, but this nice couple gave me the quick story of Altus and what it was like to grow up and live there.

It was a remarkable experience and I found myself wishing I could have stayed longer and learned more about my birthplace.

Throughout the day I’ve been caught up thinking about the randomness of this morning, and the odds of meeting two people with whom I share such a connection.

I’m grateful for the brief time I spend with those folks this morning, and grateful to learn a little bit about my past. I hope to someday visit Altus and to explore my birthplace a little.