This has nothing to do with web conferencing, just a cherished personal anecdote I wanted to share.
Many years ago I was in London in the dead of winter. I went to see a small and unremembered stage play starring Peter O'Toole. The name of the show was "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell." I knew nothing about the show, but I knew I wanted to see Peter O'Toole perform live in front of me.
Afterwards, a small group of us stood at the stage door, hoping for a quick autograph from Mr. O'Toole. The other actors emerged one by one or in pairs, heading home. Mr. O'Toole remained unseen. Our group of admirers dwindled.
Finally, he opened the stage door and stepped out, bundled against the cold. Smiling at us, he quietly thanked us for braving the chill temperatures and said he would be happy to sign our programmes or whatever else we had brought. He took a moment with each person and made sure to sign with whatever inscription we wanted. I couldn't think of anything more inspiring than his personal signature next to his photograph on the programme cover.
He never made any show of impatience, never tried to rush us. When each person had been attended to and thanked individually, he thanked us all again for our appreciation and said how much it meant to him. Then he got in his car and left.
I'm looking at that theater programme now as I take a moment to acknowledge his passing and a life lived to the full. Requiescat In Pace.
