I love it when things like that happen! Although your friend's Costa Rica story is absolutely wild - major goose bumps, wild. In fact, I can't stop thinking about it!

My (super-fab) mother-in-law DOES think coincidences like that are your angels looking out for you and lining things up for you. She also thinks they "whisper" to you - although sometimes you're too busy with normal life to listen. That's a little "new-agey" for me, I don't know what I think it is - but do love wondering all the same...

I've had wonderful coincidences in addition to strange ones that aren't nearly as nice as running into your friend. We had a lovely, huge tree in our front yard and for some reason I had a dream it fell down. In my dream it hit our house and the room where our at-the-time baby was sleeping. I woke up upset and told my hubby - I remember thinking if I don't tell him now he'll never believe I dreamt this if it does happen. Later that day we had a freak storm and the tree was uprooted and completely fell - thankfully it didn't hit our house in a terrible way like it did in my dream - only with minor damage. 

The tree wasn't sick - so I don't know why I was even thinking about it. It was winter so I don't know why we had a crazy wind storm (in STL). I thought I was a sleep-deprived panicky new mom until the tree really fell. Now I think I'm psychic and give Tarot readings on the side - totally kidding. Kidding!

I think these nudges are definitely for a reason and are out of our control. You and your friend clearly both needed one another. Your Costa Rica friend needed solace. I needed (and still need) to relax, stop worrying so much and try not to control everything. It's our job to stand back and be open...