Crazy, I was chilling with Roy and Winston last night at a lounge. Roy mentioned one of Winston's band friends joining us later in the evening. When Winston's friend, Joel, joined us, I could've sworn he looked a tad familiar. Just couldn't put my finger from where or when. Either that or he just reminded me of someone that looked like someone I might've known or seen in the past.

About fifteen minutes in, I just couldn't help myself and simply asked him, "Do I know you from somewhere?" I realized how off topic and random that sounded, but the die has been cast. Interestingly enough, Joel was thinking the same thing. After a few clues, we realized we were both in the Bay Area Wind Symphony from about a decade ago. Three degrees comes full loop to actually being just one.

I think what I found most interesting are the relationships between all of us. I first knew Roy between first and third grade, at which, he went to a different elementary school, high school, and college. Fifteen years later, we randomly got back in touch and started hanging out. Roy knows Winston from college. I forget if he met Winston through another good friend, but for simplicity sake, I'll just say they're originally one degree from each other. Winston knows Joel from a wind ensemble that they're currently participating in.

Socially, that's: Me => Roy => Winston => Joel

However, on the other hand if you look at it from a musically social standpoint, a few connections are flipped. Let's start with Roy. He has a relative. We'll call her Ms. A for these purposes. She happens to give piano lessons, one of her students being Roy himself. After having taking piano lessons from someone else, I decided to switch teachers years later. My new teacher happened to be Ms. A.  I then joined the Bay Area Wind Symphony and do my thing there for a couple years. A short time into it, Joel happens to audition in to the same wind symphony as me. He also played the clarinet, and he sat just a few chairs from me. Due to numerous reasons Joel, leaves that ensemble and joins a couple more ensembles. Finally the one he's currently at, Winston happens to be a part of that band.

So musically, that's: Roy => Me => Joel => Winston

I have a feeling that as social networks progress with the technology, the concept of six degrees of separation will eventually become obsolete.