This synchronicity is another one that involves names – as well as some other peculiarities. It occurred in the 1950s and the original source is Mysteries of the Unexplained, which has one of the best best collections of classic synchronicities.
So we have a chap named Eric W. Smith, a metallurgist with the English Steel Company. He lives in a quiet suburb of Sheffield called Ecclesall and behind his home is a wooded area where people stroll and used to horseback ride. Smith often walked in the woods, collecting manure for his tomato plants, which he picked up with a dustpan and put in an oilcloth shopping bag.
Smith brought out his pipe and tobacco tin and when the stranger brought out his pipe, too, Smith offered him tobacco from his tin. The gentlemen thanked him and said he had his own brand. It was the same as Smith’s.
“At this point, both men had the sense that something eerie was happening to them.” (Gee, you think?!)
“My name’s Smith,” said the first man.
“So is mine,” the stranger replied.
“Eric Smith.”
“Me, too,” replied the second Smith.
“Eric W. Smith.”
“Yes.”
Smith # 1 clarifies things. “The W stands for Wales.”
Smith #2 says, “There we differ. I’m Walter.”
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It seems the trickster’s fingerprints are found on this one!
Very cool story. Gave me chills. Equally interesting comments!
In my imagination?!
so where do i sign up, trish?
Awesome story and comments. I really loved this one.
You would be a great candidate for chip, Gypsy!
gee, parallel living rooms and bedrooms – and dreams – i had an old friend from many moons ago in my dream last night and when i woke, had to literally sit and look around and figure out where i was and why he wasn't still there – one of those dream encounters where you really can't tell it from the other reality – and when i finally fell back to sleep, another very intense dream of a cinnamon red short-winged horse coming toward me as i stood beside my/a car – for some reason i was fearful of this horse and kept going around the car away from it – but saw that there were two men chasing behind him to get him back – anyway, rambling aside, it was all very very parallel to SOMEthing, just not sure WHAT! oh, just as an aside, i'm also reading running time right now so perhaps it's just that my chip is working really well!
Yes, it does feel like a parallel universe. It reminds me of Gypsy's post on a parallel living room!
Wow, this could have a parallel universe feeling to it!
oh, wow!!! what an incredibly wonderful story! just don't have enough adjectives! great!!! love it! and the lulu story, very neat! and yes, it does cause one to wonder just how many of these experiences there are….
I love these sort of examples and the anonymous one above.
Mike
Anonymous – great story. I wonder how often these experiences are just shrugged off as "interesting coincidences."
Just this week my sister, who as a child we nicknamed Lulu, was shopping with her 2 year old @ a bookstore. As they were strolling down an aisle, she saw a little set of feet following along through the shelves. At the end of the aisle there was a teary eyed little girl about my neice's age. My sister found out she was lost and took her to the front to have her mom paged. She asked the little girl's name. It was Lulu. She asked Lulu if she knew her mommie's name. The little girl said yes, it is Cheryl. Cheryl is our mothers name.