3-Time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart

The Degrees Of Separation Theory

Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world. So the chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps (such as a friend of a friend of a friend etc. out to 6 friends). It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy and popularized by a play written by John Guare.

For instance, my partner, has a cousin who co-owns a music school/concert hall in Charlotte NC where Jeff Bridges played a rehearsal concert. So I’m 2 degrees of separation from Jeff Bridges, and 3 degrees of separation from his brother Beau Bridges.

Today I learned that I’m 1 degree separated from my favorite person in the world (outside of my partner and our son of course). This idea made me very excited, so I had to share!

I’m friends with a guy who is a dirt track race car driver and who knows Tony Stewart. But it’s not a mere acquaintance, which I would count as a “friend of a friend” kind of separation. Others might, but I have higher standards I guess.

Today I learned that my racer friend is in Charlotte to visit the Stewart-Haas Racing Shop. I asked him, while he’s there anyway, to get me a picture of my Tony if he can. Ok, I didn’t really ask I said “get me a picture of my Anthony” and he agreed to make the attempt. 

Well little did I know, my friend sends a text to Tony and asked if he was going to be there at the shop? But Tony replied that he is already in Knoxville Iowa where the Knoxville Nationals are being held this week. My friend shared that info with me and it dawned on me…wait..he has Tony’s phone number and is a close enough friend that he also received a very quick reply for the text message. I’m 1 degree separated from my Tony Stewart!!!

I think that’s terribly kewl. It really means nothing in the scheme of things, but I think it’s awesome!! It’s not worth anything to anyone, nor does it mean anything to anyone else. But it made me smile and that’s really all that matters!!

Later in April 2015, my son and I had a chance to meet Tony in person at an autograph session at the Ashland Virginia Bass Pro Shop. It’s My Favorite Tony Stewart Autograph, and I have a few. Now I’ve confused myself a little. Is that 0-degrees of separation?!

It’s the little things that a bring smile to your face that matter most.
Because the big things don’t come around that often.
~ Springwolf    © 2001

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