As far as I’m concerned, the only worthwhile souvenirs from my journeys aren’t things that can be rung up by a sales clerk. No, the keepsakes I treasure most are the memories of those unforgettable people and extraordinary experiences that are the reason we all take to the road in the first place.
My recent encounter with a remarkable man named Lewis Hankins is a good example. Fascinated with author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (aka: Mark Twain) since his English teacher father introduced him to the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, with his wild silver hair and bushy mustache Lewis has grown into the spitting image of the man he portrays in his one-man show.
Seeing him perform in his all-white suit is a borderline magical experience, as he seems to be channeling the spirit of Clemens himself. Even more remarkable is the fact that Lewis’ performances follow no script; he improvises each show entirely from the knowledge he’s spent a lifetime accumulating.
After spending the afternoon laughing with Lewis, I had some time to reflect on this and similar once-in-a-lifetime adventures I’ve had over the years. And though it sometimes makes me a little wistful to think that these moments may never come again, I know that these extraordinary experiences will live on in my memory. And that I am all the richer for it.
To find out more about Lewis Hanks and the American Queen paddle-wheel riverboat trip where I met him, see page 134 in my book Extraordinary Experiences.