Sometimes when you meet someone, you find one of the following:

Similar hobby or interest (e.g. food truck hunting, cycling, same music band)

Mutual friend which often leads to let’s all make a reason to hang out or see you at the next event of the mutual friend

An event that both of you attended

Some strange instant connection that indescribable—from any gender, not necessarily romantic in any way; but it’s never awkward, it feels right

It’s the last one that is rare. Sure the first few are about similarities, but it’s the last one that…it’s instant that it’s overlap in so many ways. It’s so mutual. And afterwards, you are in a trance—we are soulmates.

Evidence #1
“I smell cologne,” a coworker said as he got his desk. Everyone else around me agreed and gave all the guys heavy stares. I sniffed the air and shook my head. I don’t smell anything!

Evidence #2
“Is there paint?” someone said approaching me. I sniffed around me and smelled nothing. Nothing from the walls, no stickiness protuding. No…I don’t think so.

Evidence #3
I was excited by the idea of a roast chicken for my dinner, having furiously rubbed in spices, sea salt and freshly grounded pepper. 425°F for an hour. I settled in my chair, responding to personal emails, aimlessly browsing facebook and scanning my twitter feed. Then there was the unmistakable squeal from the smoke alarm. I dashed out my chair, glancing up at the blinking light putting one hand helplessly to my weak right ear. Then arriving at the oven, I turned it off and opened the door. Only 30 minutes had passed and a little smoke (or was it steam?) billowed out. The smoke alarm stopped. I smelled nothing.

Did I lose my sense of smell? Out of the 5 senses…is that the one that we don’t notice when it disappears?

There is this strange moment when you find someone makes the same choices that you do. That it’s not just one, two or three. But it’s many similarities.

But more so, when other people have been telling you how similar you are to someone else.

For the third time this year, I met a twin.

But I have my doubts—how many people do I meet every day that live within the same block, love food carts, attend eclectic events in the city, have similar decision-making re: job, work in user experience, know so much about social media and all many SF startups? A lot. I think.

Randy Pausch was the first one to say it. At least in a way to have an impact on me.

Like Steve Jobs, he was an inspiration. Like Steve Jobs, he made a speech that changed people. And like Steve Jobs, he had terminal pancreatic cancer.

Sure both men had different impacts—through teaching for one and through products for the other.

At the very end, it’s the same message that brings us inspiration. To believe in yourself. To follow your childhood dreams.

What do they talk about? Nothing spectacular. Parents, death, former boyfriends and girlfriends, music, and the problem with reincarnation when there are more people alive now than in all previous times put together (if there is a finite number of souls, are we living in a period of a 5-to-1 split?). – Roger Ebert on Before Sunset

I have watched that movie several times now—with various people. Some groaned, “Boring” or kept their lips tight to say a polite “It was good”.

But to me, it has been that odd instinctive connection you have with someone. It’s rare. It’s natural and uncontrived. It’s so much beyond meet cute.

But I wonder how often that happens with someone that you have “known” for a long time. Is it that one moment you suddenly have a strange connection…and you want to spend time with them over and over again? I wonder how many couples often meet each other like that—beyond just surface attraction.

I remember a conversation in 2006 that I had about horchata and taco trucks. That was the moment for me. Innocent, untouched, and familiar.

Vegas?

“Seriously???” I would exclaim.

The idea of debauchery as a last celebration of singledom appalled me. And parading around in a white veil with idiotic games…

But then I was given a penis cake mold.

And I couldn’t help but create something. The ideas kept flowing through my head and I couldn’t stop it. I had to make it.

I found colorful cake mix, took the frosting from Whole Foods (there’s only one kind that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, organic) and cheap decorative items.

And allow the future Mrs. Bobbit to have fun.