Serendipitous Moment - Part 2

On Saturday, February 3rd, I went to see a concert at Hugh’s Room in Toronto that was billed as “’’Homeward Bound’…an Intimate Evening of Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits.” The concert featured John Sheard (keyboard) + Jory Nash (singer/guitarist) + Brian MacMillan (singer/guitarist).

I took public transit to the event.

I knew that the doors would open at 7:00 p.m. for a concert start of 8:00 p.m. I tried to time my arrival as close to 7:00 p.m. as possible, so that I wouldn’t have to wait too long in the cold, and I could arrive early enough to get a good seat on the aisle. Seating is first-come, first-serve.

I left the house at 6:00 p.m. and arrived at Hugh’s Room at 6:30 p.m.

I had time to kill so I took a walk around the neighbourhood. By that time it was 6:45 p.m. I didn’t mind waiting for 15 minutes, because for a winter’s night in Toronto, it was pretty bearable.

At 6:55 p.m. a lady arrived at the entrance to Hugh’s Room. I learned that she was John Sheard’s sister.

As I was talking to John Sheard’s sister, a small lineup of 3 people formed behind me.

I started talking to the gentleman who was located behind me.

I asked the gentleman if he had been to Hugh’s Room before. Yes and no. Yes, he was at Hugh’s Room before when it was located on Roncesvalles Avenue, but no, this was his first time at this particular location on Broadview Avenue.?

I exchanged a few pleasantries with the gentleman and I thought that would be the end of our conversation.

When I was inside, I found a seat on the aisle. The gentleman decided to sit near me on the aisle seat, one row ahead of me.

Between 7:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., we had an in-depth conversation. We talked about family, work, interests, etc.

My new friend told me about his late father, Mervyn Blak e. It seems to me that Mr. Blake had a storied life. Mr. Blake was born in India in 1907 and died in Toronto in 2003. He was 95. Mr. Blake graduated from London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He served in World War II as a driver. He brought his family from England to Canada in the fifties. Mr. Blake was a long-time actor with the Stratford Festival company for 42 seasons. Mr. Blake had three children: Andrew, Bridget and Tim.

I had a serendipitous meeting with Andrew at 6:55 p.m. while waiting in line to get into Hugh’s Room.???

While I’m open in what I share on LinkedIn, I recently decided to be more open and to talk to strangers. If I wasn’t intentional about talking to strangers, I would have missed out on meeting Andrew.

Andrew and I were in line at the same time. If either of us had arrived at Hugh’s Room after 7:00 p.m., we would have missed each other. It seems like we are both punctual people.??

I had a positive vibe when talking with Andrew. We agreed to do a coffee in the near future.

We never know what the future will hold, so even if I don't cross paths with Andrew again, it was enough joy for me to have had that serendipitous moment.

A lesson for me is to talk to strangers. Because you just never know.?