TED STRYKER

I’m sure you heard that pro hockey player, Edmonton Oiler Gilbert Brule and his girlfriend picked up an unusual hitchhiker in West Vancouver last week - U2 frontman Bono.  Yes Bono was hitchhiking, I guess he was stuck in a rainstorm and needed a ride. Why not?  Stick out your thumb and get a ride.  Bono ended up giving the hockey player tickets to the show, backstage passes and a HUGE shoutout during the show to show his appreciation.

After hearing about this story, it reminded me of the night I picked up a famous actor who was doing the same thing as Bono.

Yes I picked up that man, Mr. Woody Harrelson.  It was 1997, I was driving my Ford Explorer heading north on Fairfax Blvd in the heart of Los Angeles when I spotted a man and woman with their thumbs out.  As I got closer to the pair, I noticed that the guy looked exactly like Woody. I said to my friend Larry, “I’m picking them up”.  

“What the hell are you doing”, Larry said.  Before we knew it, Woody Harrelson was in the backseat of my messy car with his girl.  The first thing he said was “Thank you for picking us up.”  I asked him why he was hitchhiking in the middle of Los Angeles and he said they had run out of gas.  So the mission was to find a gas station that had one of those red gas cans we could borrow, fill it up and take Woody back to his car.

After driving for a few minutes I spotted a gas station. I pulled in and Woody said, “Sorry man, we can’t use this gas station.”  I asked why.  ”It’s an Exxon station, can’t support them with that Exxon Valdez oil spill they had.”

So, off we go to another station. We found a good ol’ 76 Station. Woody and I got out, found a gas can, filled it up and we headed back to his car.  He thanked us a few more times for picking him up. He also said that good things would happen to me because of my “Selfless” act of kindness. He also mentioned the words karma and energy. 

The entire Woody Harrelson experience lasted about 15-20 minutes.  It is something I will never forget.  I have not seen him since I picked him up that night but always hoped we would cross paths again.

I do not recommend picking up any hitchhikers but if you do, make sure it’s someone super famous who believes in Karma and good energy.  Woody, it was my pleasure picking you up that night. Thanks for the good vibes. Hope to see you again sometime.

Say hi to my son.  This was earlier today.  Damn how sappy am I?

and one more…sorry. Go ahead throw tomatoes.   I deserve it.