Sharing here as can’t in real life

[Twinkletoesandbuttonnose]

I’m sharing this as I’m confused and perplexed about how the world works and just a bit flabbergasted really. Sharing for no purpose or advice.

I grew up in Western Australia and when I was about 4/5, I remember playing on the beach one day with a little boy who was about 7/8. I remember it vividly and had a lovely time. I didn’t know his name but we’d had a fun day building sandcastles, playing soccer and splashing and whatnot. Didn’t ever see him again and didn’t know him other than that day back in the 80’s.

I moved abroad when I was 9, to England, where I lived until 2 years ago. My husband and I moved back to Australia, this time to Cairns, in Qld which is eastern Australia.

Bit of a digression but maybe relevant. When I lived in England, at a school summer fate there was a fortune teller who told eleven year old me that my soulmate is called Robert but I won’t marry him until much later in life after having my own family. That me and this ‘Robert’ were twin flames (? Think that’s what teen she used but may be corrected?) and together in every life. Anyway, I married someone with a different name, who I’m extremely happily married to and will be married to forever.

Back to the now. I started a new job about a year ago. I have a colleague I’m drawn to but not in a physical or sexual way, just our personalities hit off and we’ve become good friends, his wife and my husband too. They’re a wonderful couple. His name is John (name changed), everyone knows him as John.

Well this weekend was his parents golden wedding anniversary, they’re also wonderful. We’d met them previously. They (his parents) hosted at their house. Had a great day. But guess what?!! John’s real name is Robert, he just goes by his middle name, John. Which meant nothing to me, I didn’t see it as a sign from the universe or anything like that. I didn’t even think about it until earlier. But this is the really wacky part. On his parent’s mantelpiece are some family photos which I was just casually looking at. One of John/Robert at a beach eating a huge ice cream with it all over his face, about 7 years old, with me and my late mother unaware, in the background. I got home and went through my photos that I’d inherited from my parents as I’ve also got some from that day of John/Robert and his family in the background.

I am obviously not going to share any of this with anyone in real life but had to get it out. No idea why. Thank you for reading (if you did)!

Fascinating. It may be that Robert will be someone important in your life. Not sexual as posters above have said.

Poster who posted about the old lady on the bench, sounds like the plot of encanto lol (been made to watch it about 5 times)

The fact that you and John/Robert re-met in adulthood at work and have become good friends to the extent you know his parents is likely to cover the soulmates thing, as that is all a huge coincidence in itself.

Don't overthink it and don't fret about what may/may not happen in future.

I would definitely tell the family about the photos though. You can explain you didn't mention anything at the time because you were so shocked to see your late SM in the picture and it triggered memories (which I'm sure it must have done).

I love coincidences. I would be sharing this lovely one with everyone l knew!

Very cool story! Either way it goes you'll be happy!

Update:
I had to return a plate to John/Robert's mother as she gave us food to take home after their party, so I did a little detour on the way home from work this afternoon. Funnily enough she invited me in to prepare another platter of left over party food for my husband and I, and another platter to take into work for John/Robert to take home for him and his wife! So much food!

Anyway, I took my photo album with me. I told her that I had seen her photographs while being nosey and I think that it was me in the background. We shared our photographs, she had some more too from that day in another album. It was very emotional and surreal. I had a little cry as in her other photographs from that beach day, there were some truly beautiful ones of my mother looking so happy and radiant. My mother was mesmerised by me in all those photographs and it got me sobbing! She gave me a really beautiful one to keep and I gave her one of mine, which had her and her husband in the background and me with my back turned away from the camera, really beautiful picture.

I got home, told my husband and he thinks it is the sweetest yet coolest thing, keeps grinning and saying "what are the chances" etc! He even said invite John/Robert and Mary over to tell them. Or shall we call them? Or shall we drop by! He is very excited anyway and wants to tell everyone. He already texted his mother to tell her! I feel better for sharing and just wanted to say thank you to you all for reading and responding! I think once the initial shock had worn off I thought actually, this is really cool and such a coincidence, which it is.

Such a small world!

I love these sorts of stories. Such a small world!

My favourite thing about this is your husbands genuine enthusiasm and happiness for you all!

He may not be called ‘Robert’, but he sounds just brilliant and it sounds like you did find your person!

It’s not really a common name in Australia.

The ONLY person I know in Cairns is called Robert 🤣

Maybe you are “twin flames”, maybe you do come together in every life, but that doesn’t have to mean as lovers. Perhaps in this one it’s for a different reason. Certainly odd that you were on the beach as kids.

I spent an evening with a man (boy really - we were about 17) once at a party. Even at 17 I can tell you that there wasn't a speck of attraction, but it felt like he was my soulmate - we completely and totally bonded. It was one night only as he and his parents emigrated that week and this was long before cell phones and social media.

I have never forgotten him and if I were to meet him again, I'd consider it just an amazing sign that we were meant to be friends.

I think this is a really lovely story! And agree with your DH - share it widely!

The next coincidence will be when someone spots your post and tells your h that a fortune teller expects you to run off with Robert when the kids are older. 😂

That is such an awesome coincidence and story! I’m glad you took your album over and shared it with her. You’ll have to update again when you’ve talked to John. I bet he’ll be stunned!

Growing up I spent most of my summers visiting family in the US and often made friends with boys my age on the beach. As a teenager I thought it would be terribly romantic if I encountered one of them again and we realized we had been playmates on the beaches of California/Cape Cod/Nantucket and then ended up married. Never happened, but it was a nice thought! 😂

What a wonderful set of events op. I'm.so glad it turned out the way it did. Your husband sounds wonderful and John/Robert sounds the perfect best friend. I loved reading all the stories of similar connections

I love coincidences and moments in life you just don't think anyone will believe.
My weird moment in life was when I was pregnant with dd who's now 20, I'd just been for a scan and had been told they thought dd had a severe life limiting condition. I was walking through a market on my way home when a woman appeared out of nowhere and said to me "don't worry your baby is absolutely fine" I asked what she meant and she said "just trust me" then she walked away.
A week later I had another scan which confirmed they were wrong and dd was infact healthy.
Nobody believed me when I told them

That was a little message through someone, from God, and who cares if others believe you either, I’ve had a lot of these kinds of encounters and it’s very special between you and someone who cares about you more than anyone ever could

Was he the little boy you had played with on the beach?

Yes he was! He also remembers the day vaguely too and recalled some memories that I didn’t remember. We’re all still so ‘woah’, and everybody at work knows too now as he told one person, who is clearly the one to tell when you’d like to spread rumours! 😂

Thank you again for everyone who responded and properly read the post and didn’t patronise me with “he’s not the only Robert” or soulmates aren’t real etc! I never once said I believe he’s my soulmate, nor am I going to start an affair! He’s a lovely friend, you cannot get more platonic! His wife is a very special lady and is like a sister to me. Mostly though, my wonderful husband is my one and only, forever. I just wanted to share one huge coincidence and one semi related smaller coincidence.

I’ve loved reading the stories that some others have shared. There really is some magic in the world. The “your baby will be fine” one is gorgeous.

These stories have much more charm than my experience - while teaching abroad in France I met a guy who lived in the same town, he was perfectly nice, but we were never attracted to each other or particularly close.

Over the next few years I managed to randomly bump into him in two different countries (he’d left France), and three different cities! I’m now on the other side of the world and half expecting him to pop up, shame we weren’t close or it would be quite sweet. Instead I’m left thinking “why you and not someone I’d actually like to catch up with?!!”.

Awh what a lovely story. None of us know what the future holds.

I have a photo with my partner in the background taken three years before we met. I'd like to think it's fate (although time may tell 😂)

There are angels in human form.