3 Degrees of Separation

Setting: The Beach Shop & Grill (a local greasy spoon), Topsail Beach, NC

Cast: Howard (brother), Maya (sister-in-law), Nate (Howard's grad school roommate; also friend to Craig and me), Hallie (Nate's wife), Craig, me, our waitress

[After Howard deliberated for quite a while about what to order for lunch, with much patience exhibited by the waitress...]

Howard: Where are you from? You don't sound like you're from here.

Waitress: New York.

Maya: Where in New York?

Waitress: Long Island.

[Much back and forth about location specifics by the New Yorkers followed. This segued to a discussion of how the waitress got to Topsail Beach (her husband owns a home repair business). Craig then asked the waitress her last name in case he needed to look up her husband. She responded and started to head towards the kitchen.]

Waitress [walking away]: Oh, but my maiden name is better - Colavito.

Suzanne: Oh, like the olive oil?

Waitress: No, that's Colavita, with an A.

Howard: Like Rocky Colavito?

Waitress: Yes, he's my uncle.

Nate: No way!

Howard (loudly): BULL$*&@!!!

[Other diners turn towards table.]

This led to an extensive back and forth between Howard, Nate, and the waitress, with the waitress needing to cite statistics about her uncle before Howard and Nate would actually believe they were only a few degrees of separation from a baseball great.

Despite sunny weather, visiting with friends and family, yummy food, and fun in the water, I think this encounter will be Howard's stand-out moment from his trip to Topsail Beach. More photos here.