MY TED TALK

 POST # 569

Most of my readers, with the exception of just one, wouldn't know that I recently participated in a Ted Talk. It isn't my first one, as there have been many throughout the years, and I would like to think that it won't be my last one either.  Each Ted Talk has been very worthwhile, and I always come away from them with a good feeling.  The most recent one had the same effect. So let's go through the details.

Exactly one week ago today, on September 30th, I had the opportunity to participate in a Ted Talk that lasted more than four hours.  As far as Ted Talks go, that is a rather lengthy one for sure, but this particular talk went by way too fast.  I was so glad that I had the chance to participate in it.

OK, let me get a little bit more specific.  Rather than a Ted Talk, it was a talk with Ted.  This is Ted.

So, who is Ted?  Ted is a dear friend of mine, that I have known since November, 1978.  We happened to meet in Auckland New Zealand, and even though we've both lived in different countries over the ensuing forty-five years, we have somehow managed to stay in touch all of this time.

Some months after our first meeting, we unexpectedly bumped into each other in Tasmania.  Ted was biking down the coast to Hobart, and I was hitchhiking.  We ended up doing a cat and mouse thing down the coast, with him and a couple of friends on their bikes, and me with my thumb out.  At one point in the journey, Ted asked me what I was reading at the time?  He just assumed that with all those hours sitting by the side of the road waiting for a ride, that I must have something to read, in order to pass the time.  When I told him that I didn't read, he was rather shocked, and soon after he provided me with a book.  That simple exchange, all those years ago, is what started me reading, and I've never stopped.  For that, I will be forever grateful to Ted.

In the early part of the 2000's, we both lived in Vancouver, and so we had the opportunity to get together on numerous occasions.  Since that time, I have been wandering around doing my house/pet sitting gig, and Ted and his wife Doreen now live in Mexico.  They were returning there, after visiting their daughter in Australia, and that was the reason why we had the chance to have a visit last Saturday.

Of course, the time went by way too fast, but in my humble opinion, I think that we filled it up with meaningful conversation, and some beer and sushi as well.

Two Old Farts

But before we both knew it, it was time for Ted to say goodbye, so I escorted him over to the Skytrain station nearby, and took one more photo, before he walked through the turnstile, and I returned to the apartment.

Two old farts outside

Ted is now back home in Mexico, and I'm still here with Ollie as my only company.  Perhaps we will have the opportunity to catch up again somewhere in the future, but if we don't, then at least we had this time to spend together.  

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer