My Encounter with a Physicist T/M from New Zealand

There are many onces in a life time. I just had another one this week. Through Sherry, I had a wonderful encounter with a retired Physicist who happens to be a T/M, Mr. Norton Moise. He’s a friend of Sherry’s friend and came to Taipei from New Zealand for sightseeing. After a few e-mails back and forth between we three, I finally got the chance to meet this physicist T/M, and had a very special week.

He was thoughtful to send us a picture of him in advance so that we would know what he looks like. What surprised me most was when Sherry told me he’s eighty two years old. I thought he was at his 60s. On Thursday evening, I finally met him at the demo meeting of L.V. Hsien Tien TMC, an advanced T/Ms Club. After listening to his speech and talk, I found him very lighthearted and warm.

Sherry gave me another surprise by asking me to escort Norton back to hotel. Well, it was an easy and pleasant job getting the pleasure of chatting with him, just two of us. I didn’t know the exact location of his hotel and had to pay more attention on the direction I went. Still I managed to keep chatting all the way and hope that he felt our conversation enjoyable. I was impressed when hearing he say has never really retired despite the fact that he retired three times. He moved to New Zealand to teach in an University there after retiring from his teaching in the States. Then back to teach again after his second retirement there. From him I learned that to some people they would never get used to retirement. They keep rolling to keep their brain in good shape. His story is inspiring. The last surprise was when Sherry mentioned he had a heart pacing device on his chest. The only sign of his age is his slow pace in walk. With all his inconvenience, he travels, enjoys life and makes himself a pleasant company.

He’s truly a man of intelligence. He also paints, and is an amateur painter. He sent a painting to Sherry before he arrived. It was in all the pictures we took after the meeting. He played bridge as a hobby. His bridge partner is an entrepreneur and had chance to played bridge with the richest man in the world, Bill Gates. He shook hands will Einstein when he was 16 which was the inspiration for him to study physics and become a physicist. He certainly lives his life to the fullest.

Pity that I had class on Saturday and must let him play bridge alone at the Bridge Center with a partner that the center helped to arrange. Or it will be my greatest honor and joy to play bridge with him. I picked him up after the bridge game and accompanied him to the hotel waiting for Sherry to join us for dinner.

Sherry suggested we dined at the Ambassador Hotel. Three of us had much fun there chatting, taking photos and enjoying the cuisine the hotel served. Sherry was in a very high spirit throughout the dinner creating a cheerful atmosphere for Norton. I bet we must have drawn a lot of attention from the staff there. The whole restaurant seemed to be our playground. Good that there weren’t many customers yet then as we had quite an early dinner.

I hope my small car didn’t make him uncomfortable though he said it was perfectly fine. Norton is tall having two long legs. Whenever he got off the car, I could tell how his legs suffered bending them in the narrowed and limited space in front of his seat.

I won’t be able to see Norton again for his last few days stay in Taipei. Sincerely wish him a safe trip home and here thank him and Sherry for making my weekend delightful and enjoyable.

Trini
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