Date one was a great time, and we experienced the high of meeting a fun couple and the promise of more good times as we all clicked.

Date two was another great time, with even more fun and the elation of a future with them as well. That came crashing down as they later decided the chemistry is not quite right.

But none of that would prepare us for date three.

We pulled into Hooters just a before eight. It was an hour drive for us, and just about the same for our guests who were coming in from Tampa. Somehow we each ended up at different tables. By text we eventually decided we would join them at their table. We found them and exchanged hugs, then quickly decided OUR table was better (and more quiet) and we returned.

It didn't take long for laughter to fill our conversation. I initially didn't think J was the type for Mrs. as she prefers a taller man, but things seemed to be going well. One by one we went around the table, talking about what we do for a living. The two of them are in the same field, have been married for 25 years and you could see they are in love. It's always nice to see that in a couple. When it came to my turn to talk the conversation turned, but then we came back to it. At some point L asked me where I was from and I replied New York. J said "What part?" and I told him "Staten Island."

"That's funny... we have a LS friend from there." Though it's been 25 years since I lived there I joked "What's their name... maybe I know them."

They gave the first name, not necessarily an uncommon name, so I said "Yeah, I know a guy by that name and he lives in the Tampa area these days." When pressed for his last name I told them, and even noted the peculiar spelling.

So here we are in Lakeland, Fl, meeting up with a couple from Tampa, and her best LS friend (she says he is her favorite swap partner) IS A GUY I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH IN NEW YORK AND HAVEN'T SEEN IN 25 YEARS. I even went so far as to pull up his Facebook page on my phone to verify. This is nutty. Needle, meet haystack. No, this is Needle, met hayfield.

Yes, we made a connection. The chemistry was working in all directions. We're already making plans for them to visit Orlando and for us to visit Tampa. And at some point, unbeknownst to an old classmate of mine, we will be at the same party. Oh, this is just too much.

I wonder if anyone was paying attention to the two couples making out in the parking lot only to leave with the "wrong" person.