Distance: 180 km/111 miles
Date: April 26, 2008 (and November 27, 2013)
Time waited: 1 minute (and 5 1/2 years)
The story: Passover 2008. The holiday had started on a difficult note; I was released from the hospital hours before the seder, due to a bad case of mononucleosis. Yet after a day of rest, I was back on my feet and ready to adventure (actually, when am I not?). An acquaintance, known for organizing reggae parties, invited me to the Batz Festival, named after Batz, a popular character from a television show (actually an palindrome of himself, he's a turtle). Featuring of course, reggae (and Balkan) music.
R happily joined the fun, even though we weren't sure about holiday arrangements (or rather, were pretty sure that they were non-existent). Plenty of noteworthy things happened: My bus almost broke down en route; I cut my toe pretty badly, and we resorted to arak as a disinfectant; we were tentless when it began raining, and more.
The reggae-loving, pita-eating crowd started heading out in the mid afternoon, and R and I decided to go with the flow. We hitched a ride towards Tiberias, and spent the holiday afternoon at the beautiful Kinneret. It was getting late, and there wasn't a proper bus stop, so we decided to get going before dark. We'd barely gotten our bearings, and a large white car pulled over. Where to? Jerusalem. Perfect-o.
The couple in the car was a few years younger than us, and involved in a pre-military program. Actually, they were heading past Jerusalem, towards Beit Shemesh, but they had to pass through the city. We humbly offered them some of our food, and they made sure it wasn't chametz (of course not!). We shared some awful Passover version of cake and dried fruit that, in comparison, tasted like a million dollars.
The years pass. CG has gone to the US and returned with an MA, both she and R have changed jobs numerous times, CG is now a science teacher at an awesome elementary school. R has studied a few different things, and we've both hitched dozens of other rides, together and alone. But some experiences, well, they stick in your mind.
Hannuka 2013. The principal at CG's school invites the staff and their families to light the first candle together. It's a last minute event, and everyone arrives in a festive mood. The toddlers are running around, the food is delicious, and in walks N, the former science teacher who now teaches 1st grade. Alongside him, his wife and toddler. Bingo. My mind races back to Passover, the Kinneret, the dried fruit. Within a split second my mind is absolutely consumed, and I cannot help but approach N and his wife, and ask if, by any chance, they'd given me a ride, five years ago, from the Kinneret..... "on Passover," N completes my question. Double bingo. "You were with a friend," N continues, "she was really tall." His wife adds, "we ate dried fruit, right?" Triple bingo.
Turns out, N hadn't recognized me - nor I him. But rather his wife had triggered my memory. Later in the evening, he told me that they'd met someone a few years ago who resembles me, and he'd actually asked that person if they'd hitched a ride with them on Passover a few years back.
Now that's Car-ma.
