How many times have we heard ourselves say it: What a coincidence! And sometimes that’s all it is, an outcome against which the odds were stacked. Then there are things not even coincidence can explain. Case in point–Bill and Gloria Jamieson.
After a painful divorce, Gloria Jean Slinkard felt so strongly about wanting to remain single for the rest of her life that she vowed to never even consider getting married again. Then she met Bill Jamieson.
Four days later, on Valentine’s Day, Bill proposed and Gloria said yes. Immediately. Why? Because what occurred in that brief interlude was so improbable the odds were astronomical. But we’ll try to compute them anyway.
Love at First Sight: Gloria was sitting in the back pew of the First General Baptist Church in Jackson, Missouri, when she overheard an usher talking to a man in the aisle. He called him Bill, which was her ex’s name. Gloria turned involuntarily and got a good look at this Bill’s face.
He sure was cute! And there was something more: Gloria felt an odd feeling when she looked at this Bill, as if he were already important to her. Quickly she dismissed it from her mind. Church congregation: 550. Odds of them meeting: 1 in 150,975
Husband Shopping: That same day, after church, Gloria stopped by Walmart. She turned to look at a magazine in the checkout line. Who did she see standing behind her? None other than Bill.
“Didn’t I see you in church this morning?” Gloria asked. “Yes,” he said, smiling. “My name is Bill.” “I know,” Gloria replied. Daily customers at Walmart: 2,500. Odds of them meeting in the same checkout line: 1 in 3,123,750
What’s in a Name? “My name’s Gloria, Gloria Jean,” Gloria said. “That’s an easy name to remember,” Bill said. He was a widower, and his first wife was named Gloria Jean too. Population of U.S.: 314,880,858. Number of Glorias: 527,405. Number of Bills: 3,869,886. Odds: 1 in 9,932
Back in Burfordville: Bill and Gloria continued to chat in line. “I live in Burfordville,” Bill said. “I grew up there!” Gloria exclaimed. As chance would have it, her childhood home was across the street from his. Her parents lived there for years before moving to Jackson.
“My parents moved to a house on Donald Street when we came to Jackson,” Gloria said. “My old house in Jackson was on Donald Street,” Bill remarked. He asked if Gloria’s parents moved to a home with a carport cover in the driveway.
Gloria was stunned. “Yes!” she said. Bill told her it was the same house where he raised his children. Population of Jackson and Burfordville combined: 14,292. Odds of them having the same house: 1 in 24,334,489
License to Wed: On their first date, Gloria told Bill she’d always wanted personalized license plates. “I’ve been trying for years to get my name: GLORIA,” she said.
Bill knew why she couldn’t get it. “My late wife had those plates,” he said. “I’ll call and transfer them to you.” Number of drivers in Missouri: 3,965,610. Odds: 1 in 3,965,610
Then There Are the Little Things: The usher at Gloria and Bill’s church was shocked to see the couple walk in together for the first time. “I was just thinking that you two might make a good pair and that I ought to introduce you!” he told them.
Bill and Gloria discovered more strange coincidences: Bill’s father’s name is James, and so is Gloria’s. Bill and Gloria each had a grandmother named Maggie. Bill was born on July 20. So was Gloria’s father.
Bill had a dog named Sadie and Gloria’s sister had a dog named Sadie. Bill and Gloria both considered 10 their lucky number: They met in checkout line 10 at Walmart, went on their first date February 10 and got married on June 10, in a log chapel in the Smoky Mountains. Odds: 1 in ∞
Gloria calls Bill a romantic. “He brings me flowers, just because, and leaves silly notes in the lunch I take to work,” she says. After a snowstorm, Bill stomped out LY2 (love you too) in the yard so Gloria could see it from their bedroom window.
They’ve had only one problem in their marriage: The IRS confused Gloria with Bill’s late wife and thought she was dodging taxes!
It’s no wonder Gloria and Bill keep track of their anniversary in months instead of years (139 months and counting) so they can celebrate their love more often. Odds of them living happily ever after: 1 in 1
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