An immediate return

A week ago, after a Lightning game, I stood dumbfounded as Hall of Famer Phil Esposito walked past me as the Bolts' radio color guy emerged from the St. Pete Times Forum.

With nothing for him to sign, the most I could manage was a "Hey, Phil, how's it going?"

What I took away from the chance meeting, however, was the motivation to be better prepared the next time our paths crossed, pledging to carry a Boston Bruins puck and a silver paint pen anytime we attended a Lightning game.

I never thought my wait would be so short. Though I nearly missed him again Saturday night, my investment of preparation and a little more patience paid big dividends.