What’s the weirdest coincidence you’ve ever experienced?

That’s actually a surprisingly difficult question.

I mean, I’ve had plenty of weird coincidences over the years. Some are the sort of thing you mention in passing and everyone says, “Blimey, that’s strange.”

Then there are the ones that make you stop and wonder whether the universe has got a slightly twisted sense of humour.

For me, it has to be the story of how I met Mrs Bob.

Let’s rewind a bit.

I was twenty years old and had absolutely no idea who my future wife was.

I joined the Army.

Nothing particularly unusual about that.

Except that I signed up on Mrs Bob’s birthday.

At the time, I obviously didn’t know that.

She was just some girl somewhere in the world, living her life, while I was about to start mine on a completely different path.

Then came my second posting.

Ten miles from her home.

Again, I didn’t know her.

Didn’t know she existed.

Didn’t know that somewhere just down the road was the woman I’d eventually marry.

Life carried on.

Years passed.

And eventually, somehow, our paths finally crossed.

And here’s where it gets properly weird.

We met over a book about string theory and multiverses.

Yes.

String theory.

Multiverses.

The stuff involving tiny vibrating strings, extra dimensions and the possibility that there might be countless versions of reality existing alongside our own.

Because apparently a normal conversation about the weather wasn’t enough.

There I was, having spent years unknowingly being stationed within ten miles of the woman who would become my wife, and eventually we actually started talking because of a book about the fundamental nature of the universe.

You couldn’t make it up.

And that’s the bit I find fascinating.

At twenty, I was making decisions that I thought were simply about my own future.

Join the Army.

Get posted somewhere.

Start a career.

Meet people.

Experience life.

I had no idea that one of those decisions would eventually put me within ten miles of the person I’d spend the rest of my life with.

And she had absolutely no idea either.

Neither of us was looking for the other.

There wasn’t some grand romantic plan.

No cosmic dating algorithm.

No mysterious voice from the heavens saying, “Bob, your future wife is approximately 10 miles that way.”

Just two people getting on with their lives.

Then, years later, a book about string theory somehow becomes the conversation starter.

Which brings us back to the multiverse.

I’ve always liked the idea of parallel universes.

Somewhere, perhaps, there’s another version of me who didn’t join the Army.

Another who got posted somewhere completely different.

Another who never picked up that particular book.

And perhaps there’s another Mrs Bob who never met me at all.

But in this universe?

I joined the Army.

I signed up on her birthday.

My second posting put me ten miles from her home.

And eventually, a book about string theory and multiverses brought us together.

Coincidence?

Almost certainly.

Fate?

Who knows.

Some days I think it’s simply a wonderful collection of random events that happened to line up perfectly.

Other days, when I look back at the sheer number of things that had to happen for us to eventually meet, I can’t help but wonder.

Maybe the universe really does have a sense of humour.

And if there are infinite universes out there, I’d like to think that somewhere there’s another Bob and another Mrs Bob sitting down with a cup of tea, discussing exactly the same thing.

Although knowing my luck, that version of me probably still hasn’t figured out the washing machine.

Stay safe,

Bc