I was walking along a beach in LA, scanning for a free yoga meetup group that I had read about. Should be easy to spot...dreadlocks, yoga pants, and some mats? Ten minutes passed and I still hadn't seen a likely group. Except for the one girl with the large hair sitting down by the water, meditating. As I began to head that way I noticed a group of three strolling towards her. They looked like likely yoga candidates, and they had a purposeful direction. I followed them. Several other people also started to head toward big hair girl. My suspicions were confirmed as I approached and several people started unfolding towels or mats. The leader introduced herself personally to each person - as we shook hands, I mentioned where I was from and that I was on a road trip. "HEY!" said the guy from the original group of three I had spotted. "You're from Ontario? What part?"
I usually say Toronto. No one knows where Hamilton is, though MOST have a vague idea of Toronto's general direction.
"Hamilton," I said. "It's a city near Toronto," I quickly added.
"Ah," he replied. "Hm. So...you've taken the Barton bus before, probably..."
?????!!!!! Wait. Processing...
"The Barton bus...! Well yeah, I have, several times, I've... you're from HAMILTON??"
Oh yes, random free-yoga guy on LA beach was from Hamilton. We managed to rib each other about which high schools we'd attended and what areas of town we lived in before the yoga instructor gently pulled us back to the present moment with an om and a sun salutation. Yoga was wonderful, and by the end of the class, I'd been invited to join Jaimz Woolvett and his two visiting British friends for sushi, and possibly water volleyball at the YMCA.
My already busy social schedule (!) necessitated some back-and-forthing through email as I tried to reschedule, with my easy-going pal offering multiple opportunities for me to join them at various events and meals during the week. Finally, a day where all worked out, and I found myself walking into Sushi Kinoya, looking around for those same three people I had first followed down the beach.
We had an amazing sushi meal. My first bite of real sushi, after living 14 months on a remote sushi-less island, was, I have to say, pretty close to heaven. I may have only been half listening to my table-mates as I tried to savour what was disappearing far too quickly from my plate...and disappearing in spite of the fact that I was doing most of the talking, encouraged by Jaimz, seated beside me, who asked question after question about my trip and my experiences. I also learned about Hetty and Daniel, his quiet British friends seated across from me - the restaurant they were running, their house in England, how they had met Jaimz and his wife.
"And what about YOU?" I asked Jaimz. "What's YOUR story?"
"My story? What do you mean?"
"Well, what did you do in Hamilton, for instance? And why did you come here, to LA?"
"Oh, well, I worked for CBC for awhile, did some tv stuff, etc. Came to LA for more opportunities." He proceeded to tell me about his wife, her job as a librarian in a public school here. We talked about education systems. I don't think I managed to get the conversation back to finding out any more specifics about him before we quickly went off on other tangents.
At the end of the meal, Jaimz pulled out a credit card. "Hey!" I stopped him. "You aren't paying for me, are you?"
"Why yes I am. I invited you!" he said.
Awesome. :) I didn't expect that, and, on my limited budget which doesn't usually include wonderful sushi, was VERY grateful for such a wonderful meal with new friends...
I usually say Toronto. No one knows where Hamilton is, though MOST have a vague idea of Toronto's general direction.
"Hamilton," I said. "It's a city near Toronto," I quickly added.
"Ah," he replied. "Hm. So...you've taken the Barton bus before, probably..."
?????!!!!! Wait. Processing...
"The Barton bus...! Well yeah, I have, several times, I've... you're from HAMILTON??"
Oh yes, random free-yoga guy on LA beach was from Hamilton. We managed to rib each other about which high schools we'd attended and what areas of town we lived in before the yoga instructor gently pulled us back to the present moment with an om and a sun salutation. Yoga was wonderful, and by the end of the class, I'd been invited to join Jaimz Woolvett and his two visiting British friends for sushi, and possibly water volleyball at the YMCA.
My already busy social schedule (!) necessitated some back-and-forthing through email as I tried to reschedule, with my easy-going pal offering multiple opportunities for me to join them at various events and meals during the week. Finally, a day where all worked out, and I found myself walking into Sushi Kinoya, looking around for those same three people I had first followed down the beach.
We had an amazing sushi meal. My first bite of real sushi, after living 14 months on a remote sushi-less island, was, I have to say, pretty close to heaven. I may have only been half listening to my table-mates as I tried to savour what was disappearing far too quickly from my plate...and disappearing in spite of the fact that I was doing most of the talking, encouraged by Jaimz, seated beside me, who asked question after question about my trip and my experiences. I also learned about Hetty and Daniel, his quiet British friends seated across from me - the restaurant they were running, their house in England, how they had met Jaimz and his wife.
"And what about YOU?" I asked Jaimz. "What's YOUR story?"
"My story? What do you mean?"
"Well, what did you do in Hamilton, for instance? And why did you come here, to LA?"
"Oh, well, I worked for CBC for awhile, did some tv stuff, etc. Came to LA for more opportunities." He proceeded to tell me about his wife, her job as a librarian in a public school here. We talked about education systems. I don't think I managed to get the conversation back to finding out any more specifics about him before we quickly went off on other tangents.
At the end of the meal, Jaimz pulled out a credit card. "Hey!" I stopped him. "You aren't paying for me, are you?"
"Why yes I am. I invited you!" he said.
Awesome. :) I didn't expect that, and, on my limited budget which doesn't usually include wonderful sushi, was VERY grateful for such a wonderful meal with new friends...
The next day, sitting at my computer, I thought: "You know...the name sounds vaguely familiar. He worked at CBC, hey? I wonder..." So I Googled him (sorry Jaimz).
Well! It turns out our friend Jaimz has quite a repertoire. In the 80s and 90s Jaimz played parts in a whole host of television shows such as My Secret Identity, Street Legal, Neon Rider, Road to Avonlea, and more... Played the lead role in the show White Fang. In 1992 landed the role of the Sundance Kid in the movie Unforgiven, playing opposite Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. Moved to Los Angeles. Continued to do parts in television series and films, as well as 18 more movies (for a list of Jaimz Woolvett's film and tv credits, go to IMBD.). Has apparently come through a brain tumour and bone disease. Had a Gemini nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Started up "Open Mike Write" back in Hamilton where he encouraged writers, singers, actors and poets to present their work (click here to read Nathalie Vanderheyden's wonderful blog essay about her first experience at Open Mike Write and Jaimz' encouragement that got her up on stage). Jaimz also apparently directs and volunteers at various schools in the LA area. |
So, Jaimz. Mr.Hamilton guy. You impress me. And not because of the lengthy list of TV shows, films, Gemini nomination...(ok, a little bit)... but because, instead of talking about all the cool things you've done, you focused on me, and your friends, and your wife. Because you asked me questions about the cool things I've done. Because you wanted to hear all about my trip, and you excitedly shared about the adventures and journey of your friends and family. You honoured my story, Jaimz, by allowing me to tell it, with an appreciative audience, and for that I thank you. I learned a lot through your humility and encouragement that day, and through the generosity and openness which made you say, to a perfect stranger on the beach, "Hey! You should come join us for dinner!"