But, when we stopped in Dallas to visit our friends John and Linda, we met one of their grandsons, Sebastian, a bright and cheerful 8-year-old boy who goes by the name Bas.
So, there he was, my little doppelgänger.
I'm pretty proud of my doppelgänger. He's inquisitive, creative, smart, good-natured, optimistic, outgoing. Just what I figured someone named Bas should be.
We also were very grateful for the time we had with Bas' grandparents, John and Linda. We first met John in a choir in college. We have stayed in touch but haven't seen John and his wife, Linda, for more than 20 years.
For more than 20 years John and Linda have lived in the Dallas area. Linda has taught English as well as English as a second language to both children and adults. John has served as senior chaplain for a system of 14 hospitals where he has trained and engaged hundreds of local pastors as "attending clergy."
When we returned, John and Linda's daughter, Jessica, and her two children were at the house. She and her family live just across the street from her parents, which makes it easy for the three generations to be together.
We had a great night with these dear friends whom we have known for most of our lives. As we reflected on God's goodness over the years and talked with excitement about the possibilities ahead, we experienced again the passion, faith, and vision that drew us together more than 48 years ago and that continues to unite our hearts today.
We had a lot of fun with two guys named Bas in the same house. I just liked calling him Bas as often as I could because I almost never have that opportunity. And, when his mom called for him, she laughed when two of us responded.
I'm pretty proud of my doppelgänger. He's inquisitive, creative, smart, good-natured, optimistic, outgoing. Just what I figured someone named Bas should be.
We also were very grateful for the time we had with Bas' grandparents, John and Linda. We first met John in a choir in college. We have stayed in touch but haven't seen John and his wife, Linda, for more than 20 years.
John served as a Reformed Church pastor in three New York churches: in Manhattan, in Queens, and in Ellensville. They later moved to Holland, Michigan, where John was a chaplain at Holland Hospital. Because Lynn's mom lives in Holland, we also visited John and Linda and their four children during our visits to Holland.
For more than 20 years John and Linda have lived in the Dallas area. Linda has taught English as well as English as a second language to both children and adults. John has served as senior chaplain for a system of 14 hospitals where he has trained and engaged hundreds of local pastors as "attending clergy."
One of the hospitals John works in was recently the site of the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States. Unfortunately, the patient died. Even though it was an understandably tense time for the hospital and even though the media were not always kind, John felt that the hospital did an outstanding job of handling not only the initial patient but also the two nurses who contracted Ebola from him.
Before dinner John took us to the Trinity River Corridor to view the Dallas skyline behind a stunning new bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava.
When we returned, John and Linda's daughter, Jessica, and her two children were at the house. She and her family live just across the street from her parents, which makes it easy for the three generations to be together.
We had a great night with these dear friends whom we have known for most of our lives. As we reflected on God's goodness over the years and talked with excitement about the possibilities ahead, we experienced again the passion, faith, and vision that drew us together more than 48 years ago and that continues to unite our hearts today.
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