By Mary Cristy

At Disneyland, Cris and I were always charmed by the “It’s a Small World” exhibit and lilting voices that sang of a planet where distance was no longer perceived as detachment.

Now, modern technology bridges the gap between a Caucasian student in Palo Alto and his brown-skinned brother across the international date line.

Villages are still oceans apart, but we no longer consider them faraway places with strange-sounding names.

“No place to hide” is a fact of life. A desire for privacy is not always honored, and your name on a list may actually confer a degree of immortality.

Deceased homeowners who sold their properties long before the flowers withered on their graves may still be targeted by mortgage brokers, realtors and estate planners.

There are undoubtedly positive aspects to this sometimes erratic system. Long-lost friends and relatives may seek and find each other again on the Internet.

When I sent my New York writer friend, Neil Soderstrom, a copy of the magazine the Town Crier compiled for Los Altos Hills in honor of the town’s 50th anniversary, an excited phone call ensued.

Neil read former Mayor Sid Hubbard’s contribution on page 12 and rang to tell me he and Sid were “good buddies” and college football teammates in Illinois before they lost touch when Neil went east and Sid went west.

“I often thought of him and wondered where he was,” Neil said.

I was pleased to tell him they’ve been special friends of mine since Doni Hubbard, an avid horsewoman, presented me with four excellent self-published books on her favorite California horse trails.

Another “small world” happening turned up last Christmas in my apartment. Holidays with my visiting son from Denver promised to be quiet because, after my hospital stay, the doctor’s advice was “no big holiday parties.”

But nothing was said about visitors, and when my Davis grandson phoned to say he’d be “in the Hills” with his new girlfriend to meet her grandparents and visit us as well, I was delighted.

An artist and gourmet cook, young David’s culinary creations are treats for the eyes as well as the taste buds. His attractive friend, a confectioner, brought a supply of handmade chocolate truffles and other mouth-watering candies.

I thanked the Yuletide angels for these young, fun-loving companions and the feast they prepared.

The grandparents from the Hills turned out to be George and Shirley Climo, whose children’s books fly off the shelves at Linden Tree.

I met Shirley years ago through Kathy Pelta, another writer of children’s books. When we met, Kathy was hostessing bimonthly meetings with Shirley and two other members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers.

Although I never published books for children, I’ve learned much about this challenging market and the mutual respect among these friends who have totally supported one another.

If nations could create such harmony, leaders would defuse bombs, turn guns into ploughshares and dedicate themselves to the preservation of this Earth, where “small world” happenstance is part of every day.

Cristy, a Los Altos Hills resident, is a longtime contributor to the Town Crier. Her column runs the first week of each month.