Speaker: John Thompson - A Lifetime of Adventures
"Life is an adventure, but you have to get out of the bus," author and entrepreneur John Thompson said
in a speech illustrated by verbal snapshots from his own ventures around the globe.
In the first "snapshot," John described a trip to the Gobi Desert in an air conditioned tour bus with
a friend and half a dozen Japanese tourists. The desert was marked with huge hot, gray stones.
And, then, like a mirage, a herd of camels appeared in the roadway and impeded their travel. When the
bus stopped, John jumped out and began shooting photos of the camels and becoming absorbed in the
experience. Later, when back on the bus, he was asked what it had been like outside. It struck him
that his fellow travelers had paid to witness one of the most exotic places in the world, but
had not truly experienced it.
With the telling of that proverbial tale, John admonished club members to
teach children that they can view life through the window of a bus of can disembark and make their own
adventures. John's advise to all is to go forth boldly, to figure out where the crowd is going and
go in another direction.
For John, his life began simply in Norfolk, VA. He was recruited by the University of Florida,
where he played under Steve Spurrier. John confessed that while there he once helped cut the tail of
the Gator's mascot. On another occasion, he pulled out his shotgun and shot a weather balloon
floating in the dormitory courtyard. Ironically, he went to Wayne Waldrip's room to hide the gun, only
to learn it was Wayne's balloon he'd shot.
While a football player, John worked on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, preferring heavy construction
work during the summers to stay in shape. His last day on the job, he handed his welding gun to a
friend as he left. Sadly, he would learn the friend would be one of eight people who died working on
the bridge that day. "I am compelled to cross that bridge on a regular bases," John said.
John's journeys would take him to New York City, where he met a "bearded French guy" who turned out
to be the famous chef Jaques Peppin. Back in the South, John recounted interviews with then-Governor
Jimmy Carter and newly elected Sen. Sam Nunn (while on a flight to and from Dublin). At Savannah Beach,
he had an interview with Cecil B. Day of Day's Inn, an individual who would become a mentor. John also related
impromptu meetings with other mentors Mills B. Lane, founder of C&S Bank, and John Amos, co-founder of
AFLAC, meetings that netted investments in his Entrepreneur Spirit Magazine.
He recalled a time when he visited in Amos' home with 300 others and noticed a beautiful
girl tap dancing. "It was enthralling to me," John said. When she stopped, John shouted,
"Ole!" and threw change on the floor. Only afterwards did he recognize Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter in the
crowd - and realize the youngster was Amy Carter.
John mixed in a snapshot from Mongolia, telling of a moonlit night when he drank rice wine
and ran out on the prairie - until, that is, he heard the unmistakable howl of a wolf. The camp fire
he had left behind was only a speck on the horizon, but he returned to it in "sprinter's time."
Once, John was camping high in the Himalayas. At that altitude, the moon was so bright, he could
see through the tent. He watched as the shadow of a man crept slowly toward him. With relief, he
saw a second shadow - that of a billy goat, and realized the man was trying to capture his goat.
John would wonder whether he would have shot the man before discovering his mission if he'd
had a gun.
Wrapping up, John said, "I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on the way and
I invite you all to come along."
Fall Jonquil Festival
A big hearty thanks to the following Optimists who gave up their time Saturday and Sunday, Oct.
23 and 24, to help with the Fall Jonquil Festival: wane Waddell, Dennis Harding - all day Saturday,
Mike Kidd, Jim Morrison, Suzanne Lynn, Greg Lynn, Norma Bowman (filling in for Bill - feel
better Bill), Ken Kincaid, Alan Potter, Susan Pearson,and Reagon Merrill - Saturday and Sunday, Curt
Johnston, Chuck Hoskins, Ann Harris, Ken Smith, Phyllis Stockfisch, Steve Wilson, Otis
Thompson, Sam Forrest, Alton Curtis, Betty Turley and Nancy Cummings.
Saturday's gate totaled 2,028 and Sunday's ate totaled 033. That is 2,971 tickets sold
for the 2 days. Saturday's gate was the 2nd busiest Fall Festival day we've had.
Today's Meeting
There were 49 members and 2 guests present. Speaker John Thompson was introduced by Steve Wilson,
whose son, a member of Thompson's roller hockey team at Campbell High School, was also in attendance.
Got News?
E-mail Deborah Dance at: maplenews@aol.com
