The Pot Luck Signing Begins

“CHASING THE DREAM !!!”

Yesterday, I met a gentleman and the experience touched me greatly…

It began the day before with a horrendous journey, a train ride from my home town in the northwest of England to Liverpool train station. I should of realised when the train pulled into view and dozens of people were peering out of the windows and doors that this was a train to avoid, but alas, my connecting train wouldn’t wait for us if we waited for the next one to arrive. My wife and I were travelling light, two pull along small cases, one for our overnight stay, and one for my books. The doors opened and we squeezed somehow into a gap for the onward journey. Everyone was jovial, wise cracks coming from all directions about garlic breath and bodily outlets, but isn’t that just typically human nature that we make the best of a bad situation and soldier on regardless?

Of course what we hadn’t realised, was the ‘ three queen’s ‘ were in Liverpool for Cunard’s 175th aniversary, and the previous and subsequent trains would be exactly the same. An hour later everyone spilled out on to the platform rubbing numb arms, legs and seized joints. The next part of the journey had to be better.

We boarded the train for London Euston and it was a breeze in comparison, a few crude cups of coffee and a plastic sandwich thrown in, and we arrived in London. A tube to Hounslow West and a Taxi to our Hotel, and we’d made it.

Early next morning, after a mix up getting a taxi and the inevitable wait, whilst the wife ‘adjusted her eye-liner’ etc. we were on-route to Heathrow Airport through the morning crush of traffic. The reply from my intended last point of contact, on my embarrassment of lateness was, ” No Problem, I’m having a coffee and doing a bit of writing”.

Twenty minutes later, we walked into ‘Arrivals’ and sat on a chair with a beaming smile was the man himself, Mr Hugh C Howey.

What this guy had given up in terms of time, coming through security and customs, and a whole lot of personal sacrifice, for me, a reader, was truly humbling.

We chatted briefly about his books, books in general, family, interests and goals, while my good lady wife kept the ‘English Tea’ supplied.

I can honestly say the experience was not what I expected, I felt as if I was chatting to an old school friend, rather than a world famous Author. Thank you for being a ‘Regular Guy’ Hugh.

As for ‘Chasing The Dream’ I realised a few years ago that my Dream has already been found. A beautiful caring wife who supports me at all times, two beautiful children and a terrific family life, I want for nothing, because I now realise, ‘The Dream’ is being at peace with yourself and enjoying all the positive things around you that everyone has, contentment is the dream, and I have found it now, though in my younger years, I searched, travelled and sacrificed, only to find what I thought was my dream, was short lived, and off I would go again, in search of what I couldn’t, see was already here in my heart.

My trip was the icing on the cake, an enhancement of my dream, which will stay as a fond memory and conversation piece from now on, from a completely genuine, selfless and most considerate human being to grace this planet.

Sail on my friend, and find your dream !!!

Got mine in yesterday. Here’s my unpackaging video: