IT'S A SMALL WORLD FOR LONG-LOST KIN : BROTHERS DEFY ODDS IN CHANCE MEETING.Byline: Truong Phuoc Khanh Scripps-McClatchy Western Service What are the odds of half-brothers living in separate states - neither knowing the existence of the other - running into each other one day while waiting for the bus? What are the odds of the brothers seeking a job with the same parent company two months apart? And what are odds the men would be wearing name tags when fate finally brings them face-to-face (jargon, chat) face-to-face - (F2F, IRL) Used to describe personal interaction in real life as opposed to via some digital or electronic communications medium. ? ``The odds are astronomical as·tro·nom·i·cal also as·tro·nom·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to astronomy. 2. Of enormous magnitude; immense: an astronomical increase in the deficit. ,'' said Vern Ruff, 45, who sells Rain Soft water treatment system distributed by Crystal King in Modesto. Ruff took the job July 1995. Two months later, Danny Purtlebaugh, 39, joined the Rain Soft sales force in Columbus, Ind IND Investigational new drug Therapeutics A status assigned by the FDA to a drug before allowing its use in humans, exempting it from premarketing approval requirements so that experimental clinical trials may be conducted. See Phase 1.2, 3 studies, Sponsorship. . They bumped into each other while attending a company national convention in Florida last month. They were waiting to be ushered into a bus headed for Disney World. How did Ruff and Purtlebaugh - two different surnames - ever make the brotherly connection? ``This one guy saw from my name tag that we were from Modesto,'' Ruff said. The man, who also hails from Modesto, turned around to share the small coincidence Coincidence is the noteworthy alignment of two or more events or circumstances without obvious causal connection. The word is derived from the Latin co- ("in", "with", "together") and incidere ("to fall on"). to a friend - a tall, balding man wearing the name tag ``Danny Purtlebaugh.'' ``That's not a common name,'' said Ruff, balding himself, whose biological father is named Purtlebaugh. After learning that they both were born in Columbus, Ind., Ruff said he asked Purtlebaugh one question: ``What's your dad's first name?'' ``Vern,'' answered Purtlebaugh. The puzzle “Puzzle solving” redirects here. For the concept in Thomas Kuhn's philosophy of science, see normal science. A puzzle is a problem or enigma that challenges ingenuity. was falling into place, but there was one more piece to go. ``I've got to ask you another question,'' Ruff said, peering into a face that's beginning to look familiar. ``Has your dad ever been married before?'' Yes, Purtlebaugh said, to a woman named Mary Katherine. ``Oh my God,'' Ruff shouted shout n. A loud cry. tr. & intr.v. shout·ed, shout·ing, shouts To say with or utter a shout. Phrasal Verb: shout down To overwhelm or silence by shouting loudly. , before his mother's name even finished falling from Purtlebaugh's lips. ``We're brothers.'' |
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