It all began so many moons ago, in a land far away—neither hers nor mine, a place neither of us could call home. A boat, a breeze, a rooftop… Africa. Two people from worlds so different: the frozen wasteland and a land down under. Looking back, I never could have guessed that a heart would overtake the logic in my mind. “Zing“? It’s a small word, but one with so much meaning, one that only a fortunate few ever get to feel. I’d love to meet the person who coined it—my guess is, they have their own unforgettable love story to share.
This is my story of time, laughter, love, distance, and hope—and why, sometimes, logic should be tossed aside when it comes to love, passion, or even something as reckless as swimming without shark nets. We are here for a brief moment, so why not live life fully and love fearlessly?
Back in ’99, when I first heard the suggestion, I probably thought, “Africa? Yeah, that could be fun. I’d get to see the behind-the-scenes footage they never showed on Mutual of Omaha when I was a kid. Heck, I could ride a camel, dive in the Red Sea.” But how did a simple suggestion from a travel agent—”Ever thought about floating down the Nile?”—end up changing my life? Egypt was never on my top ten list. After all, I’m from small-town Alberta.
But from there, I floated down the Nile, kissed under the stars, followed someone to the UK, and then… well, there was a lot of time. A lot. But sometimes, Maktub—it was “written”—shows itself when you least expect it. So to hell with logic. If you don’t get this part, and you’re searching for love—or simply yearning to change your life—read The Alchemist and stop resisting what destiny has planned for you.
When I say “a lot” of time, I mean it. We didn’t see each other again for over 20 years. But when the pond finally brought her to Canada, everything felt like it had come full circle. When the elevator doors opened, I saw her: still blonde, that same bright smile, just as radiant as it was in ’99. In those first moments, I knew this was something special. Over the next few days, there were trees with lights, a cozy dark restaurant, a box full of pastries, chocolate… so many smiles, so much laughter. Zing!
A year later, I was on a flight headed her direction, a maple leaf on the tail of the plane. Suddenly, I was surrounded by roos, signs warning about snakes—and, of course, the beautiful blonde beside me. What a trip. It wasn’t easy heading back across the pond, unsure if or when I’d see her again.
She saw your land. I saw hers. Then came the question: “Want to meet somewhere next year?” Tickets were bought. Plans were made. Somewhere in those plans was a trip to the Tiger Temple for her birthday. What I will say is, if you’re over 30 and bust your toe the morning before you go, still be a man about it—but don’t sign up for the 1260 steps up to the Tiger Cave Temple, in Krabi! That was a challenge—but boy, did we laugh. Almost as hard as when the call of the moose echoed through the Queen’s art gallery the day we both went home.
Thailand was full of sparks, long walks, swims, great food—and feelings I had never experienced before. With each day, we discovered more about each other. We grew together, and I realized that no distance could diminish what was blooming between us. The chemistry was undeniable.
True love is crazy. If you’re after simple, predictable, and easy, I hope you enjoy boredom. For some, love is expressed in a Celine Dion song, or Dean Lewis, or simply being together in a shack with a didgeridoo playing in a song called Prayer, with no words at all. For others, it might be listening to Swift at 50+. It’s in a million songs, and it’s different for everyone.
What I know for sure is this: though your heart beats and pushes blood throughout your body to keep you alive, love—and sometimes age—can cause it to skip a beat. The feelings in your heart can make you laugh, tear up, and question so many things, no matter your age or where you live. Listen to your heart.
We are here for such a short time, and unfortunately, few of us truly get to experience love and feel whole—especially when it comes to new love as we grow older. When it comes to love, don’t settle for the “golden years” and the mundane. Be big kids. Kiss in public. Hold hands. Date. Challenge each other. Sing songs like you’re 20 for the rest of your life.
