Thanks for the link to this story. It’s wonderful. And yes, I would very much like to think I might be remembered by a couple of this type of people.🎉🤭
Love this! While pondering my answer to the unforgettable people I have encountered...I began to wonder about future stories written about the writers that one meets on Substack..there are a few already that I could write on...not just ships passing..but space ships...like in the cosmos chance meetings! Or maybe not so random..reminds me of the scripture in Hebrews that we should not fail to look after strangers..for thereby some have entertained angels...unawares..
Kristi! I friggin love this post. I, too, see meeting random people who sometimes become regulars in your life, or people that pop in and out now and again as one of the best and most important reasons to travel. And for sure, there are many Who I’ll never forget. I’ve no doubt your more than one person is unforgettable. ♥️
Yeah, true. We almost fell over when we realized it. Our friend recommended him and we had no idea until we started looking at all the photos EVERYWHERE on his otherwise bland insurance walls. I know I should call him a matador but I like bull fighter better. He was really fun to write about and he was quite a kick a*$ in the book. The taking care of business kinda guy.
Good one, Kristi! I think the oddest memorable person was our first insurance guy, Oscar, in Cancun, who was a former bull fighter, hand to god. We walked up to his low-key office, opened the door and a haze of smoke rolled out. He came out from the back, cigarette in hand, fake silk shirt unbuttoned to his navel, all smiles. (we'd been recommended, therefore the smiles). There were pictures of him in b/w all over the walls, bullfighting. The most important thing he told me is if I was ever in a car accident and there was blood, to faint. I said why? He said in Mexico, if there's blood, someone goes to jail—you'd rather go to the hospital. He was a kick and I wrote him into my second narco thriller, Tulum Takedown. He was a 'fixer' from Playa del Carmen to my cartel protagonist, Layla, and always called her Boss (jeffa en español). I couldn't get him out from under my skin.
"our first insurance guy, Oscar, in Cancun, who was a former bull fighter" << That is a sentence you will never hear twice in your lifetime bahahaa! I love this story and that you use him as a character in your novels! So great!
I loved this story, Kristi. I felt like I was actually there with you. I remember that city with such fondness, and it has figured into a couple of my Substack stories. Such adventure to be had there! Here is a story about a chance encounter in Scotland turning into a lifelong romance ( since you've asked) https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/the-tobermory-ferry-a-scottish-adventure?
Thanks Sharron! I loved this story too. NOLA was seriously one of the most incredible travel experiences I've ever had and that's saying a LOT. The people did it for me.
I've met a lot of memorable people, and I plan to devote chapters to a few of them in my memoir some day. But there's one person who I'll never forget. Annoyingly, I can't remember his name and only wrote a few sentences about him at the time in 2010. He was a tour guide on Robben Island in South Africa--where he served as a political prisoner for at least a decade. He talked about his time there, apartheid within the prison and why he still gives tours. I hung on his every word. When I asked him why he gave tours, he said, "So people will not forget." I don't know how well he knew President Mandela, but they were imprisoned on Robben Island at the same time. It may be time to do some investigating to find out his name and if he's still giving tours. I love your thoughtfulness and travel stories. Hope to run into you traveling some day. <3
My unforgettable person was a woman I sat beside on a plane. Turned out she was from my small valley and had sustained a life-changing injury in a car accident so I knew of her but I didn't recognize her. Holiday travel being nutty, we were sitting apart from our families who were also on the plane and we bonded instantly. We had the kind of deep conversation that is rare and intimate. I never forgot it and never saw her again.
I love this! (Also omg that Ramos gin fizz) It's got me thinking who the Harrisons have been in my life, and sending out a little thank-you. I can also think of one person who didn't quite turn into a Stephen, but I've kind of wished he had and kicked myself over it. 😉
Awww, well if it makes you feel any better I have kicked myself over this Stephen as well. We had each other's numbers and I was in NOLA for another 5 days after meeting him that night. But neither of us reached out, expecting that the other one would. Then I came home. Then Covid hit. Then...then...then...life happens.
April will be five years since that night and we still stay in touch occasionally, which is weird considering the time and distance.
I probably have more missed connections that I would care to think about. Your stories are making me realize that I do need to be a bit more open and outgoing!
I recall the story of a woman who later wrote the primary medical textbook (always called the Ruth Lawrence book in breastfeeding circles) about breastfeeding only being able to nurse because of the kindness of an elderly Black housekeeper mopping her hospital room floor. That lady retained the knowledge even though all the professional white medical people pushed formula. The housekeeper taught the young doctor how to nurse. What if she hadn’t? That book was very important in restoring the knowledge of lactation to the medical world.
I have a similar story of my own, and I need to write this. But the short version is that I was a LLL Leader as a young mom, and I also had a home biz that catered to nursing moms. I had interactions with a LOT of moms in those days. Many, many years later, when my kids were grown and I was living another life, I became aware of an IBCLC who was making real changes in breastfeeding support in the town where I live now. I heard so many moms say she helped them succeed. I admired her from afar. And then one day, she told me she had attended my LLL meeting when she was a young mom! She said I was nursing my toddler son at the time, which was not very common then (or now, actually) and that's I'd said something about it like, "What is common is not always what is normal." She said it was the first time she realized that. I have to be honest, I don't recall meeting her 30 years ago. I would never have known I made any kind of impression on her if we hadn't both ended up in the same town (and both worked for a while, at different times, at a local ad agency).
I have another story about someone who told me she had a friend I'd helped with breastfeeding difficulties through my home biz. She rented a pump from me, apparently, and I always did a lot of teaching and encouragement with every mom I had any contact with. When the woman met me, she knew who I was and said her friend succeeded in nursing -- and then her child was diagnosed with some kind of pediatric cancer. The only nourishment the child could take during treatment was her mother's milk, and, according to the woman's friend, the doctor said the fact that the baby was breastfed was the only thing that kept the child alive!!!!! I don't recall that mom. I don't even recall the woman who told me about her. I have no idea how the story continued. But I like knowing that I occasionally had some kind of positive effect in the world.
Thanks for the link to this story. It’s wonderful. And yes, I would very much like to think I might be remembered by a couple of this type of people.🎉🤭
I'm happy at least one person clicked into one of those archive links! I lovey old content!
And I'm positive somebody remembers you in such a way.
Love this! While pondering my answer to the unforgettable people I have encountered...I began to wonder about future stories written about the writers that one meets on Substack..there are a few already that I could write on...not just ships passing..but space ships...like in the cosmos chance meetings! Or maybe not so random..reminds me of the scripture in Hebrews that we should not fail to look after strangers..for thereby some have entertained angels...unawares..
Kristi! I friggin love this post. I, too, see meeting random people who sometimes become regulars in your life, or people that pop in and out now and again as one of the best and most important reasons to travel. And for sure, there are many Who I’ll never forget. I’ve no doubt your more than one person is unforgettable. ♥️
Thanks Holly! I knew the travelling people would understand this. 😊
Yeah, true. We almost fell over when we realized it. Our friend recommended him and we had no idea until we started looking at all the photos EVERYWHERE on his otherwise bland insurance walls. I know I should call him a matador but I like bull fighter better. He was really fun to write about and he was quite a kick a*$ in the book. The taking care of business kinda guy.
Good one, Kristi! I think the oddest memorable person was our first insurance guy, Oscar, in Cancun, who was a former bull fighter, hand to god. We walked up to his low-key office, opened the door and a haze of smoke rolled out. He came out from the back, cigarette in hand, fake silk shirt unbuttoned to his navel, all smiles. (we'd been recommended, therefore the smiles). There were pictures of him in b/w all over the walls, bullfighting. The most important thing he told me is if I was ever in a car accident and there was blood, to faint. I said why? He said in Mexico, if there's blood, someone goes to jail—you'd rather go to the hospital. He was a kick and I wrote him into my second narco thriller, Tulum Takedown. He was a 'fixer' from Playa del Carmen to my cartel protagonist, Layla, and always called her Boss (jeffa en español). I couldn't get him out from under my skin.
Oh my GOD 😂😂😂
"our first insurance guy, Oscar, in Cancun, who was a former bull fighter" << That is a sentence you will never hear twice in your lifetime bahahaa! I love this story and that you use him as a character in your novels! So great!
I loved this story, Kristi. I felt like I was actually there with you. I remember that city with such fondness, and it has figured into a couple of my Substack stories. Such adventure to be had there! Here is a story about a chance encounter in Scotland turning into a lifelong romance ( since you've asked) https://sharronbassano.substack.com/p/the-tobermory-ferry-a-scottish-adventure?
Thanks Sharron! I loved this story too. NOLA was seriously one of the most incredible travel experiences I've ever had and that's saying a LOT. The people did it for me.
I'm going to check your Scotland story now!
I liked reading this. The unforgettable vibe is good. Maybe there's unforgettable writing too? I usually forgot everything I read but oh well.
I've met a lot of memorable people, and I plan to devote chapters to a few of them in my memoir some day. But there's one person who I'll never forget. Annoyingly, I can't remember his name and only wrote a few sentences about him at the time in 2010. He was a tour guide on Robben Island in South Africa--where he served as a political prisoner for at least a decade. He talked about his time there, apartheid within the prison and why he still gives tours. I hung on his every word. When I asked him why he gave tours, he said, "So people will not forget." I don't know how well he knew President Mandela, but they were imprisoned on Robben Island at the same time. It may be time to do some investigating to find out his name and if he's still giving tours. I love your thoughtfulness and travel stories. Hope to run into you traveling some day. <3
He sounds like a fascinating person with an incredible story. A meeting like that likely only happens once in a lifetime!
Where was Harrison when I was in NOLA?
My unforgettable person was a woman I sat beside on a plane. Turned out she was from my small valley and had sustained a life-changing injury in a car accident so I knew of her but I didn't recognize her. Holiday travel being nutty, we were sitting apart from our families who were also on the plane and we bonded instantly. We had the kind of deep conversation that is rare and intimate. I never forgot it and never saw her again.
Wow, what a conversation that must have been. I love fleeting moments that can change your perspective. Good people exist everywhere.
I love this! (Also omg that Ramos gin fizz) It's got me thinking who the Harrisons have been in my life, and sending out a little thank-you. I can also think of one person who didn't quite turn into a Stephen, but I've kind of wished he had and kicked myself over it. 😉
Awww, well if it makes you feel any better I have kicked myself over this Stephen as well. We had each other's numbers and I was in NOLA for another 5 days after meeting him that night. But neither of us reached out, expecting that the other one would. Then I came home. Then Covid hit. Then...then...then...life happens.
April will be five years since that night and we still stay in touch occasionally, which is weird considering the time and distance.
What a wonderful story — and so true that we never know what impact we may have on someone else. Which is a great reason to try never to be a dud.
Does anyone ever try to be a dud? I think some are just naturally dud-worthy 😁😁
I have met a few who sure seemed like they were working hard to dud . . .
I do wonder about this from time to time. Does this person remember me, at all?
Although my interactions with people are rarely this interesting (social anxiety).
What a lovely story!
Dang, now I want to hang out with Harrison in New Orleans!! 😁
Right!!! He was quite the character. I actually want to go hang out with Stephen again. I think he was a real missed connection for me!
I probably have more missed connections that I would care to think about. Your stories are making me realize that I do need to be a bit more open and outgoing!
Love this Kristi! The people I met in Sicily are unforgettable to me. I keep in touch with all of them on Facebook.
Isn't it amazing how one episode of travel can change your life forever just because of the people you've met? Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely! I am itching to go do some traveling again. Ireland is my next destination!
What a great concept!
I recall the story of a woman who later wrote the primary medical textbook (always called the Ruth Lawrence book in breastfeeding circles) about breastfeeding only being able to nurse because of the kindness of an elderly Black housekeeper mopping her hospital room floor. That lady retained the knowledge even though all the professional white medical people pushed formula. The housekeeper taught the young doctor how to nurse. What if she hadn’t? That book was very important in restoring the knowledge of lactation to the medical world.
Talk about leaving one's mark in the world!
I have a similar story of my own, and I need to write this. But the short version is that I was a LLL Leader as a young mom, and I also had a home biz that catered to nursing moms. I had interactions with a LOT of moms in those days. Many, many years later, when my kids were grown and I was living another life, I became aware of an IBCLC who was making real changes in breastfeeding support in the town where I live now. I heard so many moms say she helped them succeed. I admired her from afar. And then one day, she told me she had attended my LLL meeting when she was a young mom! She said I was nursing my toddler son at the time, which was not very common then (or now, actually) and that's I'd said something about it like, "What is common is not always what is normal." She said it was the first time she realized that. I have to be honest, I don't recall meeting her 30 years ago. I would never have known I made any kind of impression on her if we hadn't both ended up in the same town (and both worked for a while, at different times, at a local ad agency).
I have another story about someone who told me she had a friend I'd helped with breastfeeding difficulties through my home biz. She rented a pump from me, apparently, and I always did a lot of teaching and encouragement with every mom I had any contact with. When the woman met me, she knew who I was and said her friend succeeded in nursing -- and then her child was diagnosed with some kind of pediatric cancer. The only nourishment the child could take during treatment was her mother's milk, and, according to the woman's friend, the doctor said the fact that the baby was breastfed was the only thing that kept the child alive!!!!! I don't recall that mom. I don't even recall the woman who told me about her. I have no idea how the story continued. But I like knowing that I occasionally had some kind of positive effect in the world.
Great story. You’ve got me thinking about all the characters I’ve met, and wondering if I left an impression
New life goals: become so memorable that I’m the never-forgotten NPC in someone else’s adventure
That's a wonderful goal. Make yourself memorable in some way or another. In Harrison's case, just his eccentricities made him memorable.