by mark lewis » Feb 11th, '15, 01:30
I came across Randi on two occasions. One was around 1976 or so. I saw him walking down Yonge Street in Toronto quite late in the evening. He looked terribly sad. I did not approach him. I found out the next day he had been in town for the funeral of a magic shop owner he had know all his life. The second time I saw him was in Union Station, Toronto just about 7 to 10 years ago or so. I had just returned from a psychic fair. He was running around looking very agitated. I decided to approach him this time. I asked if he was Randi the magician. I was fairly sure that he was but not 100 percent certain. He stared at me very grumpily and scurried away without answering. This time I was irritated by his sudden departure so I scurried after him again and slightly more aggressively demanded, "Are you James Randi?" He snorted and was about to scurry off once again but changed his mind at the last minute snarling, "Yes, I AM James Randi. Who are YOU?" I replied, "The last time I saw you in Toronto was in 1976. I saw you walking down the street. You were here for a funeral" He frowned saying, "Really? But who are you?" I responded, "I am a psychic. I just came back from a psychic fair in Ottawa! So naturally I recognised you!" To my astonishment, at that awful revelation he brightened considerably and with a twinkle in his eye he whispered conspiratorially, "Ssshhh- we cannot be seen together!".
I have to say I rather liked him.