Six degrees of … something

Fule for Thought

 

If you read last week’s column, then you know that the Fules are brand new owners of a hedgehog. Of course, I still maintain Deb bought a badger by mistake, because this thing is huge. It’s nocturnal, so you’d have to have insomnia to see him do anything! We do know that he runs on his wheel a lot, in fact he has been inspiring me to keep at it, too! It’s a strange animal, this hedgehog. For defense it “popcorns” into a ball with its bristles out. I’m guessing the other thing it would do, based on the exercise wheel … is run. The strange (and disgusting) thing is that this hedgehog also poops when he runs on the wheel. So … it has a fearsome defense of running away fast pooping, leaving a gross trail, followed by it turning into a ball of bristles, snorting. I can’t understand why these things aren’t extinct!

Anyway, back to today’s column. I was listening to the German version of the Beatles singing “She Loves You,” and I got to thinking of where my love of rock-n-roll started.  I was sick a lot as a kid, and when I stayed home, CFCN would have matinee movies. Some of these were Elvis movies, Beach movies, and rock-n-roll movies. In fact, my late mother said that I watched the Beatles’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Now, I can’t remember this at all, but she said I ran out, and came back with a mop, using it to make a wig! For me, as a kid, it was the Big 3: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and the most important was Elvis.  

There’s a theory posed, that was actually made into a play, then a movie starring Will Smith. The theory is called, “Six Degrees of Separation.” 

This theory states that due to advances in communication, travel, the Internet, and electronics, we live in a “shrinking world.”  

We can communicate with almost anyone on the earth in an instant. The theory goes on to state that, “everyone is six or fewer ‘steps’ away, by way of introduction from any other person in the world.”  

In other words I could have a friend, who in a “friend of a friend” connection, could cause me to have a “link” to any other person in the world. I know it sounds weird, but I’ll give you an example.

In the 70s, I was a fan of a Vancouver band called “Blue Northern.”

Then years later, I discovered “The Blue Shadows.” There was something about the sound and the harmonies of these bands that caught me. Here’s where the theory takes shape. A former student of mine owned a lounge here in Strathmore and hired a band called “The Co-Dependents.”  

In this band was a singer/musician named Billy Cowsill. Deb, another couple, and I got to hear them at this lounge. It was here where I recognized Mr. Cowsill, and I had a rare chance to talk with him during a break. He was gracious, and was impressed that I knew these other bands he was in, and not just the family group, “The Cowsills.”  

We chatted for quite a while, I got a photo with him, and he went back to play. It wasn’t until I saw the movie, that I saw my Six Degrees of Separation. 

I had talked with Billy Cowsill, who had been on the Ed Sullivan Show. In fact, on one appearance in the 70s, he borrowed and played a guitar from John Lennon. John Lennon was obviously a Beatle, and he and the Beatles had met Elvis in the 60s and hung out with him at his California home. So there it was, my six degrees was actually only three! I met and talked with, a performer who knew John Lennon, who in turn, knew Elvis! It’s actually quite a shock to know I was only two people away from being able to meet the one person I most wanted to meet. If only this meeting with Billy Cowsill came earlier in my life … who knows what might have happened! Maybe I could have been introduced to Elvis!

So, there you have it: my example of “Six Degrees of Separation.” 

Sadly, a few years ago, Billy Cowsill died due to serious health problems. Deb’s uncle, who had a hip replacement at the same time, told us of a very talented man, who was also his hospital roommate. He told us that he entertained all the staff and patients with his guitar while he was there! He wondered if I knew him … his name was (he thought), Billy Cowsill! So now, the link also took in my wife’s uncle. Uncle Gerry was linked to Billy, to me, to John Lennon, and finally to Elvis. As William Shatner would say, “is that weird, or what?”

So, you never know, maybe you have a closer connection to someone you’ve always wanted to meet. Maybe you’ll be the one to close the separation!

(“Fule for Thought” is a slice of life humourous column that appears in the Strathmore Times, written by long-time resident, town councillor, high school teacher, coach, husband and father of two – Pat Fule. If you would like to get in touch with Pat, you can send him an e-mail at Pat.fule@shaw.ca)