This picture was taken in August, 1970 when I was in the Language Training Mission (LTM) in Provo. The Stuttgart District was a unified group of guys, half going to Munich, half going to Berlin, working hard to learn German.
Last Saturday we were in Albuquerque for a wedding when I noticed a man in the group that looked really familiar to me. I couldn't think of where I knew him from, but I thought his name was Rod. I asked Jan if she knew him, and she said she had never seen him before. I was really puzzled.
After the wedding, I walked up to him and asked him if I looked familiar. He said no. I told him my name, and he said the name was familiar to him. His name was Rod Williamson. We talked for a couple of minutes before we figured out where we knew each other from. We were both in the Stuttgart District in the LTM 39 years ago! Neither of us had even thought of the other one in all that time. He is the third missionary from the left; I am the fourth one from the right. He went to Berlin.
We had a good time talking to each other after the wedding. He is a retired scientist from Sandia Labs in New Mexico. I invited him to stay with us if we are ever in town; he said we would always have a place to stay when we are in Albuquerque. I was amazed that I could remember his face after all this time. I showed the picture to Jan, and she couldn't pick out which one he was.
Life is pretty amazing sometimes. How fun to reconnect with old friends.
