Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The Old Guy in Front of Me
I looked around the crowd and noticed that many of the folks were much younger than me. Some of them looked like teenagers, but I guess they were in their twenties. There were many thirties, forties and some fifties. My salvation was the Old Guy seated in front of me. He was at least ten years older than me, and he had to get up often to go to the bathroom, something that happens to old guys.
I came to this Writer’s Seminar for at least three reasons. First, to learn something. Younger people are always amazed when we over-the-hill people still want to learn stuff. They don’t say it outright, but you can see it in their eyes.
Second, because this was the day of the release of a new book of which I am one of the contributing authors. It’s called People Stories: Inside the Outside. You can buy it at Amazon.com.
Third, and maybe most important, I came to see Keith Miller, one of my heroes. He is a best-selling writer who has written many books that have influenced my life. I clutched one of his books, The Taste of New Wine, that I purchased back in 1969, hoping to get him to sign it.
He was supposed to be here, but I couldn’t pick him out. I scanned the crowd of 200 or so people, but no one came close to the picture on the back cover of the book. Disappointed, I laid the book down on the chair next to me and concentrated on the speaker.
The next speaker told us to take a little break to introduce ourselves to the people around us. I wasn’t really in the mood for that, so I just sat there. Then the Old Guy in front of me turned around and stuck out his hand. “Hello, I’m Keith Miller,” he said. After writing in my book, he enthusiastically gave me a brochure describing his latest project. At 78 years, he was beginning a new venture!
That small gesture of this humble Old Guy inspired me as much as his books have. I felt very young for the rest of the day and focused on how I can complete my next dream.
