Saturday, October 2, 2010
I knew Hans socially, like many others. My first meeting left quite an impression. It would have been around 1987 and I was just over 20 years old. My little brother had saved money for a long time, and had just bought a new bicycle, and was extremely proud as he rode it off the driveway for the first time. And then... he became distracted for a moment and rolled into the bumper of a parked truck, damaging the forks and frame. We all felt terrible, and started having visions of throwing this brand new bike into the trash. Well, someone gave us Hans' number and encouraged us to call. We arrived at his home, were directed to the garage, and could not believe our eyes as we watched this fellow take one thing apart and put the other thing onto a jig and bend this and adjust that, and as for the forks that were bent... he just happened to have a pair hanging from the wall, and they were better quality than the originals. All the while, the door to the house was open and he called and answered back and forth to his wife, and this all seemed very normal to him. To this day I have never yet made it to Santa's workshop, but since that time I don't feel I've been missing anything, either. Years have passed, and I have married and become a father of two girls, had a family medicine practice in the Sault for a number of years, and now do the same in Kingston, where my wife grew up. I have been exposed to many experiences, many influences. Here is my point. Over the years I have been amazed how many times I have gone back in my mind to that day meeting Hans the first time. And I know this one experience contributed to certain decisions I have made over the years, to keep working at my passions and to keep some passion in my work. That is a rare influence. Condolences, prayers, and warm wishes from my family to yours. Lou.
