As the old saying goes, you’re never meet your hero or idol.
I’ve been very fortunate in my career to meet and interview public figures like Rick Hansen.He’s a truly amazing and inspirational man.I first met Hansen not too long after he finished his Man in Motion World Tour.Even though our interview lasted only about 20 minutes, he left me with an optimism and different way of viewing people with disabilities.
Flash forward about a decade, and I met him again when he was the speaker at an event I was covering as a reporter.What struck me immediately was that he remembered me and our conversation all those years earlier.We talked again, this time about his work with the Rick Hansen Foundation.
I can honestly say I admire Hansen for his work raising awareness for those with a disability and especially the millions of dollars he’s raised researching spinal cord injuries. Everything he’s done and continues to do, is to better people who can sometimes be overlooked.
By my definition, Hansen is a hero.If you ever have the opportunity to meet this amazing man, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of it.I think you would be impressed with not only the man, but also his vision and passion for the things he cares about.
Another man I recently met, I’ve idolized since I first heard his music as a child.
The year was 1975 and I heard “Dreamer” by Supertramp for the first time.I can’t explain why I liked the song, just that it was awesome.
I used my allowance and bought the album “Crime of the Century” and I’m sure I wore out at least one vinyl record and one cassette tape over the months and years.
The man that sang most of my favourite songs was Roger Hodgson and in the years that followed, I bought every Supertramp album in most of the formats of the day.
I had always said that if he came anywhere within an eight-hour drive, I would make every effort to go hear him live.I finally realized that dream in 2015 when I would be lucky enough to be in the front row at a concert he gave in Calgary.
Earlier this month I got to see him again in Calgary, and this time I had meet and greet tickets; I was going to meet my musical idol.
At the age of 68, Hodgson’s voice is very nearly what it was when he recorded those songs I grew up with.He would sing two of my favourite songs and a multitude of others over the two-hour concert and then it was time to meet him.
I’m rarely at a loss for words. However, I admit I was star struck, briefly, when it was my turn to spend a few minutes with him.I managed to tell this man how much his music has meant to me over the years and to thank him for bringing it to all of us fans.
Even 40 plus years later, you could easily tell he was still having fun playing the songs we grew up with.To him, it wasn’t just about money, it was about the music and the fans.
So, I guess I’ve been mostly lucky over the years to have had the opportunity to meet a hero and an idol, and both were genuine people who inspired others.
Perhaps the old saying should go:Don’t meet all your heroes and idols, only the ones who are worth your time!
Warren Affleck is news anchor/reporter with 102.1 CJCY and filling in as co-host on the morning show this week and next.
