Meeting a Knight

Today I met Sir Richard Branson.

I knew exactly what I was going to say to him.
I had been rehearsing it for about 2 weeks.

I got to the bookstore on time and even purchased his book…the cheaper older one, because I am poor…and stood in the winding queue waiting for autographs.

He is human, I kept telling myself. A person, just like you. The queue slowly inched forward.

Then something crossed my mind. I had intended to ask Sir Richard Branson what the difference between him and me was. But that seemed suddenly ridiculous, since there were so many obvious differences between us. And what I wanted him to confirm, was what I already knew, that they were all trivial. So I searched my brain for something more meaningful to discuss with the founder of one of the greatest business empires of all time.

Then I remembered that during the interview session, he had spoken about “the Elders” – a group of wise people brought together by him and Nelson Mandela to advise and help reconcile the world’s problems. A fluorescent, energy efficient (because I am in Canada and we are green!) light bulb went off in my head…Zimbabwe!
So as I neared the stage where Richard was signing away, and my palms got progressively sweatier, and I felt my voice box start to shake uncontrollably, I knew what I had to say, Please ask the Elders to help my country!

Alas, I got to the table, and I must have been dazed by his golden locks, because no speech came out. And now I thank my parents, because as he transcribed my name off the little yellow post-it note, he warmly said, “Well, you have an unusual name.” “I’m from Zimbabwe,” I blurted out. “Oh yes, he said, I was just talking about your country this morning.” “Are the Elders going to help my country?” I spluttered. (It is shear torture for me to re-live this!) “I sent them all an email this morning actually. It is a shame that we couldn’t get in there sooner, but if Thabo Mbeki doesn’t succeed soon, we are definitely planning on helping.” “Thank you,” I said.

And then I hung around like the worst kind of groupie until he had finished signing all the autographs and done a second press interview, just so I could get a quick photograph. And Sir Richard Branson hugged me! And I felt the hugs of Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt…

I remember that his hands were warm, implying there is blood in his veins.

He is human… as I am.

And regardless of the obvious differences, what we have in common, is that we were both born with the potential to be the very best we could be.

And I went weeeeeeeeeeeeee, all the way home.