Six degrees of separation.

Recently I've been thinking about taking a course.  I do this periodically - think about going to school for various subjects and then gently laying the thoughts aside when life seems like it wouldn't be conducive to the female adult taking a break, or to one person spending so much money on themselves, or whatever.  Anyway, I've been looking at this course and turning it over in my mind a bit and it occurred to me that I could probably talk to someone in the field to get an idea of what it would really be like to practice this skill.  And over two days the following situation slowly unfurled...

Oh, here's an organization that does that thing...interesting...bet they don't have an ABC department, though.

Oh, they do, and there's a guy who works in it!  I'd probably feel better talking to a wo-

Oh!  He also has a female colleague who does MORE of the work I would be interested in learning about!

I wonder if I could contact HER and just...ask about how the course work would translate into her field?  Just out of curiosity.  

 I left it at that and went to bed, and didn't think much about it to be honest.  The next day I woke up and put out a message asking for advice on the situation - would it be strange to invite her to lunch if I were in her area?  Would a Skype call be something I could conceivably do?  Is this weird?  Is it weird to ask someone about their career?

Unanimously the answer was no, this was not weird.  And one person said "Maybe you know someone who knows her.  Six degrees of separation!"

Well now that does put a different spin on it, doesn't it.  This person is fairly public, with a podcast, and a recently published book, and mentions in her online bio that her husband is a minister.  It is not inconceivable that I DO know her.  Feeling a little odd, but not enough to actually stop, I Googled her husband's name and found the church he ministered at.

My friend Mary attends that church!

A quick verification and yes, yes indeed Mary's pastor is the same man, and she knows the minister's wife, and of course she will introduce me.

All in two days.