If you have not read parts 1 and 2, you may wish to do so before reading here.
Picture borrowed without permission (but he’d give it to me if I asked him) from Sebastian Spence
As I awoke to a dismal, rainy Sunday, I realized it was my last day in Vancouver. I had only been awake, not even an hour, and as I was checking all my emails, social media posts and text messages, I suddenly noticed an emotion welling up within me that I hadn’t planned on experiencing that morning. I quickly set my phone aside, and the tears began to flow–I readily admit it. And all I could think was, “Really? I’m crying now? I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet!” Although I had not heard from Sebastian, I messaged him quickly with the news that I was getting all emotional and I just detested feeling this way.
When I did not hear back right away, I figured he was busy and unable to come at the moment. I dried up my tears and went about my business. I still had people who wanted to meet me on this day, and I was going to do my best to see them if I could.
Straightway following breakfast, I began to message Giles Panton. However, he had already left me the sweetest message saying that if we couldn’t meet this time, it was okay as he was just happy that I was moving towards my dreams. Is he simply not a splendid human being? I informed him immediately that it was fine for us to meet. I decided to choose the Starbucks right across from the hotel where I had met with Sebastian the day before. We set the time for 11:15, and I expected I would be early (I always am, remember?)
Well, this is one time someone was earlier than I. I was preparing to walk out of my room with the assumption that I would be there about five minutes early, and Giles sent me a message saying he was already there! What?? So off I ran to meet up with him. And indeed, we had a lovely conversation.
with Giles Panton
When I say we had a lovely conversation, I should clarify a few things. I have known Giles online for about a year and a half, and of course, I interviewed him within the past few months (he is tied with two other actors for the longest interview–nearly two hours). I was familiar with the fact that he is a profound thinker. In fact, I believe when someone first meets Giles–especially on twitter–one may not quite know how to perceive him. He has these recondite thoughts that he will sometimes put out there, and then suddenly he has a random tweet that may be rather nonsensical. Honestly, when he and I first connected–as I love to say–I wasn’t even that impressed with him as an actor. In fairness to him, I had seen him all of two or three minutes on Cedar Cove, and I had made up my mind ahead of time that I was not going to like this actor who was replacing another one in this beloved role. Thankfully, he was kind in spite of his potential quirkiness, and I chose to set aside any negative feelings to attempt to genuinely understand him.
I can now say that Giles is one of the most esoteric people I know, and in order to fully comprehend him and the way in which he thinks, one must be willing to examine the uncharted depths of a vast array of issues and topics. We discussed a motley assortment of subjects, and we were both very open with each other. I suppose the trust we had developed over our times online was an immense help, and we both came away from the conversation with a deeper connection than we had previously. In many ways, I tend to think of him as a younger brother–thankfully he’s not annoying, or at least, not usually. He views life in much the same way I do, so that even when our views varied on a certain matters, we were able to reach a consensus and truly listen to each other. When it was time to leave, it was almost a shame to put a momentary halt to our confabulation. At the conclusion of our time, it was clear that we had a meeting of the minds and a promise to continue to resume our chat at a later date. In fact, I had forgotten how nice it was to discuss things with such erudition and clarity, so my eternal thanks to a very well-versed and verbose (no wonder we get along so well) friend.
Towards the end of my time with Giles, I happened to check my messages and noticed Jesse Hutch was responding to an earlier message I had sent him. I knew he would be not be available until later since he and his family go to church on Sundays (actually, I would have done the same had it not been for my trip). Right before Giles left, I told him that Jesse was on his way and would be meeting me soon at the very same Starbucks.
It was strange. After Giles left, I just spent time catching up on my phone, expecting that Jesse would send me a message when he was in the area. I honestly did not see him enter Starbucks. Suddenly, I heard this voice, “Ruth?” And when I looked up, I was like,”Jesse!” And so began another interesting experience that I wouldn’t have traded for anything.
Jesse Hutch and I had connected at some point during season two of Cedar Cove. Yet again, I never had trouble with him, but I was very much against his character until I realized the direction the writers were heading. Additionally, it was at some point that I realized I had actually seen him in Let It Snow before Cedar Cove, but that was a much later revelation.
Up to this point, Jesse and I had never talked via phone nor video. We had chatted and messaged from time to time on twitter. He had always been receptive to my reviews, interviews, etc. Really all we knew about each other was what we may have seen online. But we knew the most important thing–we were both committed Christians. And somehow God had placed us both in a very unusual position to serve Him–the world of entertainment.
As Jesse and I chatted, the stories that both of us shared were quite fascinating. It was as though, yet again, that we had known each other for a while and were just catching up. What I told Jesse later is what an inspiration our conversation was to me and how God had used it in my life. I am often dumbfounded by the fact that people appear to open up to me rather effortlessly, and on the flip side, how readily I take an active interest in their words and stories. While nothing epochal was shared, it did give me insight into who Jesse is as a person, and it also engendered within me an abundance of more respect for him as a person, actor, father, etc.
I finally decided to check my phone and see if Sebastian had tried to contact me. I knew the time was fleeting, but I couldn’t imagine he wouldn’t try to at least come and see me momentarily since it was my last day. And indeed that was the case. Sebastian was weighed down with more work that had to be done (never a dull minute in the acting world), and his message stated he wouldn’t have a long time to visit, but not to be upset as he was sure this would be the first of many meetings we would have. I invited him to come meet me at Starbucks.
I told Jesse that Sebastian was on his way, and before long, Sebastian sauntered through the door. And now one of my favorite moments of the entire trip happened. I got to witness a conversation to which most people would never be privy. Sebastian and Jesse began to “talk shop,” and I got to be the proverbial “fly on the wall.” There were times I couldn’t even follow what they were saying, but it was clear that these two were having a meeting of the minds, and I was there to overhear this entertaining and intriguing conversation. I realized in one sense this was encroaching on my time with Sebastian, but I wouldn’t have traded this time for anything in the world. It was a veritable treat to see two actors I had “met” through Cedar Cove exchange ideas and information and even find some similarities in their current experiences. I kept quiet as needed–only jumping in now and then to put in my two cents if I felt it added to the conversation, but most of the time, I just listened silently and actively.
Before Jesse left, I knew I wanted a picture of the two of us, and I truly said the funniest thing to Sebastian, at least, in one sense. I turned to Sebastian and asked him if he would be nice and take a picture (immediately I realized–I asked if he would be nice? When has Sebastian NOT been nice?). I handed him my phone without thinking about the fact that I understood my camera, but he may not. Oh, poor guy. He was certain he had gotten a good picture. He took two, but…
With Jesse Hutch
…unfortunately, the top of Jesse’s head got cut off each time. Sebastian was sure he had a good one, but he couldn’t figure out my camera. Jesse said he was okay with the picture as Sebastian was saying we should do a selfie. I decided I was fine with it as well. After all, who wants a “normal” picture? Let’s get a picture with character. And ten years from now, I can still look back and laugh at the picture that I made Sebastian take of Jesse and me, and I’ll remember how Jesse’s response was “Thanks to Sebastian Spence for the best and cheapest haircut I have ever had.” For me, the picture will always make me smile–no, it will make me laugh. I love a picture with character, and it certainly has that.
The time was drawing near for me to bid farewell to Sebastian, but we made the most of our remaining time. I was so concerned about him because he just looked so fatigued, and he knew he had more work ahead of him still. It’s difficult to explain, but I could see the depleted man who just wished he had some time to himself rather than having to meet the demands of the business or his “friends” or anyone else.
I did insist that we go to the hotel so I could give him the birthday gifts that were sent to me to give to him. I told him I was NOT taking them back with me and then paying to send them to him. He knows that there is really no point in arguing with me about the gifts as I have now been sending him such treasures off and on for a year or so. Not that he would have argued, but I know that in his heart, he has no idea why or how it is that I come along and send gifts to him when he sends me nothing in return. Well, he doesn’t ever have to worry, of course, for what he has given me is beyond priceless.
In the hotel, I did begin to get a little emotional, and he knew it. He assured me over and over again that this was not goodbye, but just till we meet again.
Once he left, dissolved into instant tears. I knew I needed to reach out to someone, and so God led me to the person I needed to speak with–Willie Aames. Almost right away, Willie responded. He was unable to come, but he sent his wife, Winnie Hung. And I was extremely grateful.
Willie Aames (Kyle) and Winnie Hung (Cissy)
In a very short time, Winnie arrived. We met, and she gave me the option of coffee or wine. Since wine is not something I customarily drink, we chose coffee. And so off we went for some enlightening and enlivening girl talk that truly got me through the worst of it. At first, I couldn’t say his name without crying. But as I recounted to her so many phenomenal things about the story of my time in Vancouver, I found that I was able to go on. Winnie is a stupendous lady (who actually worked as a stand-in on one of Sebastian’s films and remembered him quite fondly), and she was so helpful to me in my plight. I couldn’t thank her enough (and also thanks to Willie for sharing his wife with me).
As I bid adieu to this city where so much had changed within me, I knew this was not the last time I would see its lights nor experience its atmosphere. As I got on the plane early the next morning, my tears were happy tears and tears of the overwhelming way in which God has used me in so many people’s lives, and conversely, how He had used them. I will never forget these transcendental days in which I met some of the most wonderful people on the face of this planet, and I can only say that God is working in my life in ways I am only beginning to comprehend. I am grateful to everyone that I met while I was there, and yes, “Au Revoir, Vancouver. Till we meet again.”
