It doesn’t happen often, but now and again we uncover a story that is dripping with circumstance, so much so that it begs to be told. One such tale commences in Alexandria and Holland, contiguous townships in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. To tell it, though, we must begin in San Diego.

My grandson, Tucker Haerle, “Tuck”, recently visited us here at Tuckaway Farm in Alexandria Township. The farm, of course, is Tucker’s Mom’s childhood home. (Mine too) To circumvent a ton of superfluous words, let’s head straight to San Diego where we’ll find “Tuck” and his lovely girlfriend, Margaret. There. You’ve never traveled 3,000 miles more quickly! Ah, the magic when you read!

Quizzically, Margaret has family connections in Holland Township, but she grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. Such cross currents never promised to be a synch to follow. I write in fear that I’ll botch this beyond recognition! Is it any wonder? Folks commonly relocate with their jobs. Divorce is rampant, relocating one or another partner. Kids no sooner finish high school when college ships them a thousand miles away. Where the hell is everybody anymore?

Margaret’s grandmother on her father’s side married Oscar Rittenhouse, former Hunterdon County Prosecutor. He died tragically in a plane crash in March of 1979.

That association briefly explains young Margaret’s early nexus with Hunterdon County.

That already seems long ago.

Meanwhile, this page was written on the single remaining day of 2023. Not much more than a year ago came a day of significant consequence. Tuck met Margaret!

Margaret had very recently made a change of huge significance in her life. Her job wasn’t floating her boat. She longed to do something of her own, something entrepreneurial. Her and a girlfriend took a giant leap of faith, said ‘so long’ to their jobs, and moved to California.

One day Margaret and Greta are sitting on the beach in San Diego. A few guys approached and asked if they’d be up for a ride on their boat. The normal trepidation ensued, you know, strange guys etc. A brief glimpse at Margaret will explain the guy’s interest.

It became apparent in their conversation that Margaret and Greta were not the only girls lined up for the boat ride. In fact, there were several, seemingly an opportunity to make some new friends. Now that was much in their interest. So, it was welcome aboard for both girls.

Around the same time, Tucker moved to the area with his job. He didn’t really know anyone, except his college buddy Jared from Michigan State. Jared knew people in the area, and so Tuck figured he would hang out with Jared and meet others. One day Jared was invited to go to a “pre-game” before a concert. Jared asked Tuck to come along. At the same time, Margaret was invited to the same gathering with her new friends from the boat. Voila’!

Point of order: It just occurred to me that I used a term that is before my time. No, actually it is after my time: PRE -GAME. Pardon me while I experience a little time-warp. Pre-game, you see, is a present-day kid term. It means a party before the event, a little imbibing “tune-up” before festivities begin.

A lot of happenstances have just been parlayed here. Jared and Tuck just happened to be college buddies who, by chance, re-connected. Margaret and Greta just happened to be seated on the beach when the guys ambled along. And there’s this: Tuck made his way to San Diego, originally from Massachusetts. Margaret did the same from Carolina, but just as though it was part of a plan, they had a chance meeting in San Diego.

And get this: Richard, Margaret’s Dad, in his Jersey days, attended high school for a few years at what school? Delaware Valley Regional. So did I. We both played football there. Tuck’s Mom, Vanessa, also went to Del-Val.

Within these few paragraphs, a dizzying array of coincidence has spilled upon the page. Not all of it was explicable. At least not all of it made perfect sense! Such is life, wouldn’t you agree? Consider, however, what life supplanted. A perfect package… I am hoping for years of these visits from Tuck and Margaret!