Long Lost Scot
It’s odd to keep a letter from someone you hardly know. Even odder to come across it twenty three years later. When do you think this type of happening is serendipity and not just coincidence? Add in the Scottish connection and I could fabricate a full blown conspiracy theory! OK, I’m kidding, no conspiracy here…
This weekend I found a letter sent to me in 1990 from a young Scottish lad that had been visiting Vancouver. As I read the long note I started to remember the time we spent together. A passing friendship with someone on vacation.
This was a time long before emails ruled our world. It was a chatty note reminiscing about his time in Vancouver. He thanked me for hiring him to appear in a television commercial I was producing at the time. Apparently the $100 I paid him was much needed. He also goes on to tell me in great detail about a new business idea he is working on. I remember thinking the plan was crazy but it might be something so outlandish it could work. I’m sure I also thought his young man was a little crazy.
Back in 1990 I had not yet discovered my own Scottish roots. This was years before I opened my adoption papers and embraced my heritage. Rick being from Glasgow was not a point I noted any more than it giving him a fun accent. Meeting someone from Scotland meant I could talk to them about Billy Connolly. The fact made no huge or lasting impression.
Last night I opted to do a google search on this long lost Scot. A total crap shoot but his being from Scotland was enough to perk my interest. It didn’t take long for the name to appear all over the web. I discovered Rick E. from Glasgow is an infamous businessman. At times he’s been worth millions. All the indications show this is the same young man that wrote the letter.
It’s not so much of a leap to assume the savvy person with the great business idea back in 1990 is the same person to make big ideas become reality.
I wonder how many times we cross paths with people and never know what they become. I sit here and question if this is the same Rick I met so many years ago.
Serendipity? Who knows…
Maybe even a distant relative…. 🙂