Had a second “small world” story the very next day.
My copilot is brand new to our airline, but had Captained small jets for one of our regionals for the last 10-ish years. But not based here; he was always in another city. We’re walking down the hallway to US Immigration amidst a throng of passengers who’d just gotten off our jet from an island tourist destination. Just ahead are a 20-something couple dressed like vacationers. But her luggage has all the indicia of a crew person, not a tourist.
So being the forward sort that I am, I catch up and ask them if they they had fun on the island. “Boy, we sure did!” Then she notices my FO and lets out a squeal. Turns out she’s an FA now here in Miami for the same outfit he just quit to come here. They used to fly together from that other city all the time. At small companies everybody gets to know everybody; that’s much harder at the MegaCorp where we now work.
Much old home week ensued.
It’s hardly surprising when you encounter an immediate co-worker while at work. That’s kinda where you’d expect to find them; it’s more weird to find them at a grocery store. But your extended circle of semi-co-workers is a lot bigger than you might think it is. Wherever you go around the system, there’s always one nearby even if you never notice each other.