Tuesday, January 15, 2008

My Twist of Fate?

Forrest Gump once pondered, "I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time."

Flashback to 9:15 a.m, Tuesday, January 15, 2008... Charlotte, NC Airport. To set the scenario, I'm on a business trip, transferring flights to go from Charlotte to Raleigh. I've been up since 3:45 a.m. (had to make it to the Cleveland airport by 5:00). I'm tired, hungry, and anxious from travel.

When I arrive at my gate, I happen to see an odd looking young man slouched over sipping a McDonalds drink. DOUBLE-TAKE... IT'S NONE OTHER THAN THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION JEFF HARDY!!! Mind you, I'm going on 3 1/2 hours of sleep so I thought my eyes and mind were deceiving me. After all, Jeff Hardy had just hours earlier delivered the most hellacious Swanton Bomb known to man... a 30 ft. dive... a monumental bump from the second tier of scaffolding, taking out both he and WWE World Champion Randy Orton.


Jeff Hardy waits to board a plane in Charlotte

I get a better look as he stands to throw away his trash and now I'm down right giddy! Jeff Hardy is on my plane! Makes sense... he's from Raleigh. The question is... could he?.... is it possible?... might he be sitting next to me? One can only pray!

I board and sit down in Row 12 as the Champ strolls in a few minutes behind me looking for his seat. He's approaching.... my heart's beating faster than when I'm on my elliptical... then BAM... he sits down about 5 rows in front of me. DAMN!

This would not deter me. After the flight I follow Mr. Hardy into a bathroom, for I was not going to let this opportunity pass as I have done several times before with other athletes and entertainers. And here's where the new Froms has come to life. No more of the shy, introverted Froms. I look the superstar, the master of the Swanton Bomb, right in the face as we both wash our hands and say...

"So Jeff, it's nice to see you get a main event push after all these years... and how do you feel about the Ric Flair 'Fight For Your Career' retirement kayfabe angle?" Just kidding... I really said...

"You're Jeff Hardy!"

"Yeah man, what's up", he responds. He looked like he had about 1 hour of sleep, like when you're up all night the last night in Vegas... not surprising considering the hellacious Swanton Bomb of the second level of scaffolding!!! He was probably at the hospital all night (they took him away on a stretcher after all).

I respond, "I saw what you did last night. That was crazy!" (Looking back I wonder if he thinks I think wrestling is real).

Anyway, he says (slurring, eyes bright red) "No sh!t. They have me do crazy things."

I, cool and calm, say "Yeah, I don't even like getting up on a ladder to go onto my roof... and you're doing all that stuff." (Just how cool am I?)

He counters with a half smile and chuckle "Yeah, it's crazy. Who knows if I'll even make it to the Rumble at this rate!" (Again, I wonder if he thought I thought it was real).

"Take it easy man," he says as he leaves the bathroom.

"Take care." I say as the smile grows on my face.

And just like that, Jeff Hardy was gone.. like a "Whisper in the Wind" (his signature set up move).

And just like Forrest Gump... "I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time."

Or maybe it was... a "TWIST OF FATE" (another Hardy signature set up move).