One man taught me I could do whatever I wanted to. Tonight, I got to meet him.

I just had a magical, once-in-a-lifetime moment tonight.

First a bit of background:

I've always been a John Irving fan. Owen Meany, Garp, Cider House Rules, Son of the Circus... they were all great. But it was his short memoir, "The Imaginary Girlfriend", that truly changed my life.

Irving was a very good wrestler in high school and college but during his college years, he discovered a love of writing - not something that wrestlers were usually known for. When he'd want to go away and write, he would tell his wrestling coach that he was unable to compete because he had to go see his girlfriend. The reality was that he didn't even have one. His imaginary girlfriend was his writing.

While he coached and refereed wrestling throughout his life, he made a conscious decision to walk away from pursuing the thing he was good at to pursue the thing he loved.

I had a tiny bit in common with Irving. I was a competitive wrestler in high school and I did an undergraduate degree in Phys-ed. But after reading the book, I realized that I could do whatever I wanted. I finally understood that I didn't have to do what others expected me to do. I could walk off the path and make a new one. I could just explore the things I loved.

It was a huge lesson that still drives many of my decisions today.

Irving dedicated the book to his wrestling coach and in 1996, inspired by his writing, I sent a copy of the book to my high school wrestling coach, Craig Matthie, with an inscription thanking him for everything he had done for me.

Well.

Tonight, I got to tell this story to John Irving.

I was having dinner with good friends at a local restaurant and John Irving was sitting at the table beside us. Enjoying great conversation with Jesse Finkelstein and Tracey Finkelstein, I HAD to say something. I had to tell him how much that book - a book that is rarely talked about - meant to me. I did. He was gracious, lovely, and seemed genuinely touched by the acknowledgement.

It felt like everything - my wrestling, my PHE life, my writing, and all the nontraditional choices I've made over the years came full circle to the man who inspired me to make them.

It's also an opportunity to thank Craig Matthie and all my wrestling teammates for what they taught me both in sport and in life. I may not wear a singlet or headgear any more (you don't want to see those photos) but it's amazing how many of the lessons from the mat are still relevant today.

"Strong like bull. Smart like streetcar."