my life. We met in the shade provided by Wally the Walnut,
the tree in my care from its beginning and now 34 years old.
We had decided a few days earlier, when we really first met,
that we would gather and would watch birds at Latta Park in
the Dilworth neighborhood - my home turf.
Paul Anderson, a South African native arrived at the appointed
time and I led him to “my” tree and I told him the Wally-story.
We took a seat nearby and we continued our conversation.
Yes, we saw a Robin-Redbreast and we heard the Catbird, but
Paul’s binoculars remained otherwise in-active.
We talked about raising kids and ourselves and what events had
made strong impressions on us in our past. We spoke of how we were
brought-up and that we were admirers of trees and Nature in general.
And when I found out that he is from South Africa I brought up a
remarkable story from the book “The Secret Life of Elephants”
(I was convinced that was the title) and I began:
“Well Paul, recently I read a story about a Brit who acquired about
7.000 acres just north of the Republic. Several years into this ownership
he was called by a representative of another reserve: “ We have a herd
of destructive, mean elephants. We want to get rid of them and we’’ll
deliver them to you free of charge. And if you don’t want them, we will
otherwise get rid of them!
To the Brit (I couldn’t come up with his name) there was no choice - he
accepted, because destruction, he felt, was not an option.
The transfer was a tumultuous success and the matriarch and Lawrence
connected with each other with admiration and affection.
Three years or so into this love relationship, the reserve’s owner was
called to attend a meeting 500 miles away in Durban. When the meeting
was over and he was ready to return by plane North, he found out the
flight had been cancelled. He called the chief warden with the bad news:
“Charles, the flight has been cancelled!”
Charles: “Yes, I know!”
“What do you mean -you know-?”
C: "The matriarch and the other elephants left the entrance and went
back into the bush!”
“WOW! Really?
C: ”Really!”
So, the next day he arrived on the revised schedule and guess where the
elephants were?
Paul guessed … no, he KNEW the answer!
Why?
Well, he not only read the book (“The Elephant Whisperer” by Lawrence Oliver)
he lived NEXT DOOR to this reserve and he went on talking about his time
nearby! I was taken-aback and asked him to repeat all of that!
What makes it so almost unbelievable? Here is a man sitting next to me at
Latta Park in Dilworth, Charlotte, NC and he could confirm from personal experience
happenings from his youth, 6,000 miles away in South Africa and I read about
some of that by chance in that wonderful book!
Two souls coming together on a bench in a nearby Charlotte, NC-park.
Paul from The Republic of South Africa and I from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
What are the chances!
Flat Out Stunning - talking about a small world!
Conclusion? Keep on meeting new people! I may find out more extra-
ordinary folks and stories!
Cheers!
