改变一生的邂逅(The encounter changed his life)

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isn'titamazinghowoneperson,sharingoneidea,attherighttimeandplacecanchangethecourseofyourlife'shistory?thisiscertainlywhathappenedinmylife.wheniwas14,iwashitchhikingfromhouston,texas,throughelpasoonmywaytocalifornia.iwasfollowingmydream,journeyingwiththesun.iwasahighschooldropoutwithlearningdisabilitiesandwassetonsurfingthebiggestwavesintheworld,firstincaliforniaandtheninhawaii,whereiwouldlaterlive.

uponreachingdowntownelpaso,imetanoldman,abum,onthestreetcorner.hesawmewalking,stoppedmeandquestionedmeasipassedby.heaskedmeifiwasrunningawayfromhome,isupposebecauseilookedsoyoung.itoldhim,"notexactly,sir,"sincemyfatherhadgivenmearidetothefreewayinhoustonandgivenmehisblessingswhilesaying,"itisimportanttofollowyourdreamandwhatisinyourheart.son."thebumthenaskedmeifhecouldbuymeacupofcoffee.itoldhim,"no,sir,butasodawouldbegreat."wewalkedtoacornermaltshopandsatdownonacoupleofswivelingstoolswhileweenjoyedourdrinks.afterconversingforafewminutes,thefriendlybumtoldmetofollowhim.hetoldmethathehadsomethinggrandtoshowmeandsharewithme.wewalkedacoupleofblocksuntilwecameuponthedowntownelpasopubliclibrary.

wewalkedupitsfrontstepsandstoppedatasmallinformationstand.herethebumspoketoasmilingoldlady,andaskedherifshewouldbekindenoughtowatchmythingsforamomentwhileheandienteredthelibrary.ileftmybelongingswiththisgrandmotherlyfigureandenteredintothismagnificenthalloflearning.thebumfirstledmetoatableandaskedmetositdownandwaitforamomentwhilehelookedforsomethingspecialamongsttheshelves.afewmomentslater,hereturnedwithacoupleofoldbooksunderhisarmsandsetthemonthetable.hethensatdownbesidemeandspoke.hestartedwithafewstatementsthatwereveryspecialandthatchangedmylife.hesaid,"therearetwothingsthatiwanttoteachyou,youngman,andtheyarethese:

"numberoneistoneverjudgeabookbyitscover,foracovercanfoolyou."hefollowedwith,"ibetyouthinki'mabum,don'tyou,youngman?"isaid,"well,uh,yes,iguessso,sir.""well,youngman,i'vegotalittlesurpriseforyou.iamoneofthewealthiestmenintheworld.ihaveprobablyeverythinganymancouldeverwant.ioriginallyefromthenortheastandhaveallthethingsthatmoneycanbuy.butayearago,mywifepassedaway,blesshersoul,andsincethenihavebeendeeplyreflectinguponlife.irealizedtherewerecertainthingsihadnotyetexperiencedinlife,oneofwhichwaswhatitwouldbeliketolivelikeabumonthestreets.imadeamitmenttomyselftodoexactlythatforoneyear.forthepastyear,ihavebeengoingfromcitytocitydoingjustthat.so,yousee,don'teverjudgeabookbyitscover,foracovercanfoolyou.

"numbertwoistolearnhowtoread,myboy.forthereisonlyohingthatpeoplecanttakeawayfromyou,andthatisyourwisdom."atthatmoment,hereachedforward,grabbedmyrighthandinhisandputthemuponthebookshe'dpulledfromtheshelves.theywerethewritingsofplatoandaristotle-immortalclassicsfromancienttimes.

thebumthenledmebackpastthesmilingoldwomanneartheentrance,downthestepsandbackonthestreetsnearwherewefirstmet.hispartingrequestwasformetoneverfetwhathetaughtme.