29 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn






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December 29th 2009

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Reminiscences:

It's A Small World

by Rohn Engh

The world is getting smaller, and this story proves it.

In 1957, my wife, Jeri, who was on her way to attend her junior year of college at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, landed in London on the ocean liner the Queen Elizabeth. American students on board were greeted by British students who had volunteered to help the "Yanks" with their baggage and connecting trains to other parts of the British Isles.

Peter Johnston, a University of London student, introduced himself to Jeri, showed her London, and got her on the train to St. Andrews. They struck up a pen pal friendship. Thirty years later, when we visited him and his French wife, Clementine, in their home in Central England, I learned that Peter was a commercial pilot during the 60s and had flown out of the African town, Niamey, on the Niger River.

Niamey, then French West Africa, was familiar to me. A young German friend, Rudi Thurau, and I put in to the river port in 1957 after building a raft out of palm trees and gasoline drums and hooking it up to our motor scooter. Our trip ended halfway down river when I fell from a cliff while photographing, suffering a broken arm and internal injuries. I was released from the Niamey hospital shortly before Christmas, and wired my parents for passage to fly home.

When my parent's money was delayed, I got anxious and audacious. I approached the head of Texaco Petroleum in Niamey, a Mr. Locatelli, explaining my situation in French and asked to borrow $500. "I'd ike to be home for Christmas," I said.

We were strangers, but Monsieur Locatelli had heard about our attempt to raft down the Niger River, and how it had ended in a near-fatal accident. He was pensive for a long time, then pulled out his desk drawer and wrote out a check for the equivalent of $500 in French West African Francs. I bought my ticket to the USA.

On December 23rd, the money finally arrived from my parents. I paid Mr. Locatelli back, thanked him heartily and spent Christmas 1957 with my family in my home town, Ocean City, Maryland.

The following December 28th 1958, the Saturday Evening Post published 12 photos and my story of that ill-fated trip across the Sahara desert and down the Niger River.

Jeri, on her Christmas/New Year's vacation from her senior year in college, read the article, wrote to me. We arranged to meet and were married a year later!

But the story doesn't end there.

This past holiday, Peter Johnston and his wife, Clementine visited our farm from their current home on the west coast of France. It's a fishing village called Quimper.

Peter brought up the story about the fellow from Niamey who lent me $500. "Let me tell you something strange, "Peter said. "While visiting our local physician in Quimper, I just learned recently that my doctor, here in France, grew up in Niamey, West Africa."

"That's a coincidence," I said.

"I asked him what his father did in Niamey and he said he was the head of Texaco,", Peter said. "I asked him if his father ever mentioned the young adventurers who came through Niamey on their palm log raft hooked up to a motor scooter. "

'Sure did,' he said. 'That story is a legend in Niamey. And I often wondered if it were true...that my dad loaned a complete stranger from a foreign country $500. My father was no one to throw money away. I could never figure it out. He has since passed away, but always told that story around Christmas. I often wondered what happened to that American.'
"Well, guess what," Peter said to the physician. "My wife, Clementine and I are flying off tomorrow to visit Rohn and his wife, Jeri, in Wisconsin, USA. We'll wish him a Merry Christmas for you!"

I guess this really is a small world, huh?


(To view larger image, click on picture)

Rohn Engh, is publisher of PhotoStockNOTES. www.photosource.com





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Comments

Thanks for the heart-warming story, Rohn! You've described an amazing series of coincidences- I have nothing that comes close, but I am reminded of friends made while traveling. Oh, to be on the road again!

Jim Sack - 30 Dec, 2009 - 11:58:09

Such an amazing story!! Great how it all worked out. Yes, it is a small world!

amazing! - 30 Dec, 2009 - 13:45:39

Great story! I am hoping for at least one "adventure" in 2010; yes, it's up to me, isn't it?

Jeri was pretty bold!

Duane Stevens - 31 Dec, 2009 - 11:38:36

Rohn...that was such a beautiful story & I also have had a European adventure that paralleled your story (but not anywhere near as dramatic)...Bill & I were hitchhiking thru Italy in 1972 & we were stuck in a hill town& this gentleman picked us up, took us to his home, fed us & paid for a hotel for us...such magnificent generosity & so heartfelt...that is what miracles are about...Barbara Beeman

barbarabeeman.com - 31 Dec, 2009 - 17:23:41

What a great story! Thanks for sharing it with us this Holiday Season.I'm sure you have many more. I would love to hear how you came to settle in Osceola.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Rick.

Rick Fisk - 03 Jan, 2010 - 15:14:55

Ron - I love that story.
Happy New Year!
Carol Kitman

www.carolkitman.com - 04 Jan, 2010 - 18:38:29

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