The Strange Coincidences Archive

The drug mifepristone was called RU 486 when it was discovered by researchers at Roussel Uclaf of France in 1980. They had not been looking for an way of terminating pregnancy. They called it RU for the company name and 486 was presumably the number randomly assigned to the compound. But in English “86” means to dispose of, get rid of, disqualify, divest, drop, eradicate, reject or veto. So the name of the drug is “Are You For Eighty-Six.”

I find it hard to believe this is a coincidence but only the researchers at Roussel-Uclaf can know for certain.

When I was 7 I was best friends with VS. When I went to college I became close to
MM. 2 years later MM left college to have a baby with Richard M. She named the kid Ben. She and Richard split up and she moved to the east 20s in Manhattan. VS married her high school boyfriend, Richard S, had a son and named him Benjamin. They separated and she moved to the east 20s in Manhattan. At that point I introduced them.

A year or so later both of my friends moved, independently and without consulting each other, to the east village where they lived 2 blocks apart and met by accident in a neighborhood park.They have remained friends since then although they are very different and have had several battles. I am still friends with both women.

I was driving a friend to the airport on a gray and threatening Ca. eve, knowing that my windshield wipers were broken; hoping it wouldn’t rain; when I left the airport it was dark and raining heavily, I could not see in front of me, the traffic at rushhour was fast, only the red taillights in front of me were a clue and there was no place to pull off; “Oh Jesus, why would Jesus help me?” was all I could think, my car radio was playing some rock and roll song; I went under an overpass and the radio switched to another station; a black gospel choir sang “Wait for Jesus; Wait for Jesus; Wait for Jesus; I left the protection of the overpass, the radio switched back to the rock and roll, and the windshield wipers came on, all the way home.

I was in my basement with a plumber with a wrench, looking for the gas line to hook up a hot tub water heater. As we stood looking at the house water heater, the copper flange that connected the gas line to the heater broke,pulled away from the heater and began hissing gas; the plumber stooped and turned off the gas. Had we not been there, since we all smoke and cook upstairs with gas, the chances are we would have blown ourselves up that evening. What luck.

I was in Manhattan going to art school. Met a handsome man who claimed to be the son of the prime minister of Barbados, Brian Barrows, where I had visited . We started a relationship. A few days later the Prime Minister of Barbados was on the front page of the Times, with his three young children, nowhere near the age of my new friend. Of course the relationship ended, just in time.

I was in Manhattan going to art school. Met a handsome man who claimed to be the son of the prime minister of Barbados, Brian Barrows, where I had visited . We started a relationship. A few days later the Prime Minister of Barbados was on the front page of the Times, with his three young children, nowhere near the age of my new friend. Of course the relationship ended, just in time.

A few days ago me and my friends cashed in our loose change jar to buy a sweet bong, and after we spent like $60 for it some random dude offered to sell us the same exact bong for $15 a few days later.

I was picking out the first book I wanted to read over the summer from my university’s library and when I opened it I found a postcard. It was eight years old and addressed to the daughter of my favorite professor. The daughter just got married last month to the boy who wrote the postcard.

back in gradeschool, while studying in my room for a science exam, i got a nosebleed. and it dripped on my notebook. guess where it landed. on the word “blood”. i thought that was pretty cool!

Try this one out…..

Last November was my 20th High School Reunion, and I blew it off, partly because I’ve gained a lot of weight, and partly because I’m gay and would have to bring my partner of almost 10 years. I didn’t want to deal with coming out to my graduating class. I assume that the class president, who is organizing the event, knows about my lifestyle through acquaintances that we share, although the last time she and I spoke was 10 years ago at the last reunion.

So, it’s been four months and since I never showed, I’ve been getting emails from the class president asking why I didn’t show, and if we can get together. I have not replied. About a month ago, my partner started a new job, working for a very religious organization. We both agreed that, until his three-month trial period is over, it would be best not to disclose his sexual orientation to anyone, due to the nature of the clientele, which is mostly priests and other members of the clergy.

Now, here’s the weird part. His new boss and he were talking, and when she told him where she had graduated high school, he called me with her last name and asked if I knew her. His new boss and my old class president are the same person.