Upon coming home, I always ask Mom how her day went and I tell her about mine. Tonight, the “glib talk” wasn’t played. She was so busy talking to my uncle over the phone about Ted Williams that I only received a hand sign from her that was like signaling “Later.”
Wait! Ted…who? Without a clue, I asked Mom to give me a summary instead of watching it on YouTube because I didn’t want to face the computer screen anymore tonight since my eyes were on it the whole day. She said she couldn’t tell me the story because it’s so overwhelming and poignant to be broken down to words.
I was left with no choice; I didn’t want to go to bed without hearing the “big news.” So I watched the video, and I felt so touched with Ted Williams’ story.
Ted is a 53-year-old (but he doesn’t like like one; he looks older) homeless Ohio area man who held up a sign that read he had the “God-given gift of a great voice” and he was willing to share it with anyone who could donate some change. In exchange for a few coins, his patrons get a treat to sound bites of his bottomless, buttery, baritone voice.
You know, I’m such a sucker for stories that deal with the theme of “second chances” simply because I believe in them myself. His is the epitome of how dreams can come true in this modern-day “Internet” era. What makes it even more appealing is that he left a life of alcoholism and drugs two and a half years ago. Watch the video here.
Photo credit: NY Times
Every day as I commute to work, I see homeless men on the sides of the road, and it often piqued my curiosity on the words they scribbled down on pieces of paper. It must have been Ted’s lucky day because a kind patron encountered Williams on the highway and uploaded a video of him and his golden voice. The video quickly turned out to be viral hit on YouTube. As a result of the video’s success and the former homeless man’s perfect voice, the Cleveland Cavaliers offered him a job as a full-time announcer for the Cavaliers and even offered him a house.
This is what I call a miracle—certainly a phenomenon.
I also watched a tearful Williams telling the CBS’ “The Early Show” about the best gift of all: the chance to visit his 92-year-old mom whom he hadn’t seen in at least a decade.
I hope we can all learn from him. Let’s keep the faith and believe that there is a second chance in life.
May the good Lord bless you, too, Dear Reader. 😀
“Keep your dreams alive.Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
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