Jason, Caesar and Superman do Friday the 13th

Written on Friday, March 13, 2009.

It's Friday the 13th! It's the day to look over your shoulder, just a split second too late, to see a madman wearing a hockey goalie mask brandishing a huge butcher knife. Can you see it? Hear it? Listen. Violins screech wildly! A tragically cute blonde screams! Her hot red blood splatters! Yeah, I can still hear it, too.

(pic) - Goalie masked Jason caught in the act. This is definitely high-sticking and he'll get a double minor (4 minutes) for drawing blood.

But don't forget the rest of the story (may Paul Harvey also rest in peace. Good day.). The hockey mask man is mad, crazy-killer-slasher mad, for vengeance because he's come back from the dead. Because he was a helpless little kid left to drown in Crystal Lake while the teenage camp counselors were bonking in the bunk house all those summers ago... I really hate to say it, but I now know exactly how Jason feels. Yeah, that's right. Better look behind you.


(pic) - Jason on-shore. The tables turned.

But that's only a tale from Hollyworld. In the real world, today also being called "Pink Friday" here in Santa Cruz County as the pink slips go out today to thousands of public school teachers being cut due to the economic crisis and California's pathetic budget woes. Folks are wearing pink in solidarity of the teachers being let go. It is one sad state of affairs. Charlie's favorite color was pink. Every time I see the color I think of him and his pink Chuck Taylor converse. Makes it even sadder.

(pic) - Pink Friday logo. (source: http://pinkfriday.ning.com/)

Two days after Friday the 13th it will be the ominous Ides of March. Julius Caesar was warned to beware the Ides of March, but he had just declared himself Roman Emperor for Life and wasn't afraid of anything. Well, after the dramatic act of tyrannicide took him down, we learn that no matter how in control we may seem (Emperor of the World for Life. - not enough), maybe we should be afraid. Very afraid.

(pic) - Tyrannicide of Caesar, 44 BC.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not superstitious at all. I'm just paranoid. This past week the sea claimed a 30 year old man and a local teenager. The 17 year old 's memory is being honored by his friends and family. Los Gatos High School tragically lost three students this year. One boy collapsed and died on campus. Another in a car accident. The school community is in shock with grief and there are memorials and counselors at hand. I actually know Los Gatos HS well. Their track is home to the infamous Dammit Run , a 5 miler that runs up the face of the Lexington reservoir dam, over a mountain and back to the HS. Charlie won first place in the Boy's 13 and Under Division in 2003, crushing the Impey brothers by over 2 minutes.

(pic) - Charlie with his first place medal from the 2003 Dammit Run in Los Gatos.

The rough year at LGHS reminds that during my senior year at Springfield HS we lost a classmate in a car accident. Her name is Karen Sargent. I knew her, but didn't know her well; just knew she had brilliant black hair and a big bright white smile. At the time, I honestly had no clue of the pain some of my classmates and her family were suffering. I am really very sorry for that. I am really sorry for their loss. I don't remember anyone at school talking to us about it. A real-life learning lesson was lost on me. In retrospect, a lesson I dearly could have used. So as my 30th HS reunion approaches and then when I blogged about Cosmos #22, I dug out my HS yearbook. There is a full page tribute to Karen.



(pic) - Karen's memoriam. (source: SHS Yearbook 1979)

(pic) - Charlie's memoriam. (source Santa Cruz HS Yearbook 2005)

I also glanced through the Senior Quotes printed below the pictures of each one of the graduating class of 1979. Terry Barton, a close friend of Karen's, senior quote grabs me. It says it all:
"All the wealth in the world could not buy a friend or pay for the loss of one." Amen.

(pic) - Terry Barton. (source: SHS Yearbook 1979)

My own Senior quote?
"Any day you don't get killed is a good one."
I cringe. How would Karen's friends and family have taken that? After the events of my life thus far, it takes my breath away. I cringe again.


(pic) - Scott Harrison. Why so serious? you might ask (source: SHS Yearbook 1979)

My senior quote is taken word-for-word from a techno-thriller novel called "Weather War". I remember reading those words and the feeling of simple truth in them. They hit a chord inside and stuck with me, so I stuck them in the yearbook. Primarily, I chose that quote because I had some rough times of my own in HS and made some incredibly stupid mistakes and had some of my own near-miss car accidents that could have easily killed me and / or my closest friends. But we somehow survived each day, and so we better just count it as a 'good' and be thankful for that.

If you don't agree that "Any day you don't get killed is a good one." then you must be a very lucky person. A local young man Charlie must have run against in cross country, Jerry Maccallister, is a C4 quadriplegic since Jan 2, 2009. But he is alive and there is hope. And ultimately that is all that is needed to sustain us: life and hope. This week I just finished listening to an audio book that I plan to give to the Maccallisters. It's called, Nothing Is Impossible, written and read by vent-dependent, C2 quadriplegic Christopher Reeve. The book covers the range of emotions: depression, suicide, despair, gratitude, helplessness, progress, love, fight and hope. It is also a political plea to allow embryonic stem cell research to help find a way to regenerate spinal tissue. It is sobering and realistic, too, and I sometimes wonder if the gift will not be wanted. The last chapter starts with this quote:

""Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords: but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain; and expectations improperly indulged must end in disappointment.""
- Samuel Johnson

Yep, there's some tough love in this book.

The final paragraph of the book is superb. So I will just leave you with Hollyworld's own Superman's words, and assure you I will pass it on to Jerry. Read them slow and think about the meaning of each word:

""When the unthinkable happens, the lighthouse is Hope. Once we find it, we must cling to it with absolute determination... Hope must be as real, and built on the same solid foundation, as a lighthouse; in that way it is different from optimism or wishful thinking. When we have Hope, we discover powers within ourselves we may have never known - the power to make sacrifices, to endure, to heal, and to love. Once we choose Hope, everything is possible. We are all on this sea together. But the lighthouse is always there, ready to show us the way home.""
-- Christoper Reeve

(pic) - The cover of the audiobook by Christopher Reeve quoted above. If you look closely you can see the ventilator tube sticking out of his throat. The hardest part of this book is readin it knowing that Reeve died on October 10, 2004, two years after it was written. Nothing and nobody lasts forever, but as long as there is hope...

Posted March 16, 2009.

Simon and Tapfunkle

pic - Smilin' Simon in the middle of a turn at Dancenter.

Three weeks ago Simon came down with the flu. He had stomach pain, stopped eating and lost five pounds. The doctor said it 'might' be the flu but had his blood checked just in case. Same Dr. calls back that night to say, "Simon's white blood cell count is abnormally low and we need to do some more tests to make sure he doesn't have lymphoma or leukemia". Say what?!

Yeah, I worry.
A lot.
Too much you say?

Subsequent tests showed he's fine. False alarm. We were due for a false alarm.

But Simon had missed a week of school and dance practice. He had a week of homework to make up and his take home application / test for High School Math Academy program was due. He was supposed to dance a solo at a benefit performance on March 7. He sucked it up, caught up on his work and got his application in on time. Then he choreographed and practiced his own solo tap dance for the benefit show. I had never seen it and wondered what he had come up with in a week...
Well, here it is on YouTube, to Queen's "Seaside Rendezvous".
It brought the house down.

Enjoy!



Then, a day later a real life seaside rendezvous with some kids from Los Gatos went terribly wrong. Under the category of "you never know", the front page headline in the Santa Cruz Sentinel was:
Teen Swept Out To Sea
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_11875854?source=rss
I read the article and got stuck on those two words too impossible to swallow: presumed drowned.

Yeah, I worry.
A lot.
And for good reason.
Yeah, I miss my oldest son, too.
A ton.
Every day in a different way.

I feel for Dennis' parents and know of the not-so-private hell they are going to live with for the rest of their lives. Sometimes I wonder how I ever made it this far. Then I see my youngest son dance like that with a big smile on his face - and watch while he puts a big smile on others faces, too. And I understand one big reason why I will always continue to take it one day at a time.

pic - Simon on the left showing some hip hop attitude. Note the old school Expos cap. (source: http://www.dancenterinfo.com/events.html)

Cosmos # 22

In the winter of 1977, Assistant Coach Chip Dorwin of the Springfield High School Cosmos boys varsity basketball team is handing out the game uniforms before the start of the season. He offers the #23 jersey to a scrawny, 5' 7 1/2 ", 135 pound, bow-legged kid who had just barely made the team. The kid knows better not to touch that one. #23 was worn by legendary SHS athlete Greg Birsky who owned the career scoring record of 1,466 points. The kid watched Greg play spectacularly for four years. Birsky ended his career in Burlington with a loss to Mt. Anthony in the State Finals game but played brilliantly.
#23, was his hero.
"No way, that number should be retired!", the would-be #23 cries.
He takes #22 instead.

pic -1979 - #22 for the Cosmos looks to pass, not shoot. Still needs a haircut.
(source: SHS 1979 Yearbook)


In the winter of 1979, with four or five games left in the regular season, Head Coach Richie Wyman pulls that same short, scrawny, bow-legged kid, #22, off the end of the bench and starts him at point guard. The team goes on to win the rest of the regular season games and hosts their first playoff game at home versus Montpelier. The Solons are coming off a State Championship in football. Also, they beat the Cosmos badly in their own Christmas Tournament title game earlier in the season.
The opening tip of the game falls into the lap of #22 and he waltzes in for an easy layup. But the ball never reaches the rim, as it is unceremoniously swatted off the backboard. The big boys had come to play. But #22 is not rattled. On defense, he plays 'free safety' the entire game and doesn't allow the run and gun Solons to get any cheap fast break points - points that had killed them in December. He also makes sure he has a hand in the face - sometimes fingers near the eyeballs - of the outside Solon sharpshooters and they miss a bundle. #22 doesn't turn the ball over the in the back court and finds Farmer Lockwood underneath for a few easy lay-ins in the half court offense. Late in the fourth quarter with the Cosmos running away with it he takes his second shot of the game, a wide open 20 footer, that goes 19 feet and sails wide left out of bounds. The stat sheet shows 3 fouls, no points and one W. Springfield goes on to play Brattleboro in the next round, with the winners advancing to the Division I State Tournament (final four?) at UVM in Burlington. The playoff game is played in Bellows Falls gym, a neutral court that has an odd rubber spongy surface. During the opening layup drills before the game #22 is as pumped up as he has ever been. He takes a pass, two steps, bounces toward the basket. Suddenly, he is soaring - soaring in uncharted territory, his head way up near the net, and he has to duck (duck!) at the last second so he won't hit his head on the rim. The layup slams off the backboard and misses everything. He is stunned. Had anyone seen that?! No one? Yet, he still remembers the rim in his face as if it was yesterday. His memory is like a dream where he is flying, regretting he had not composed himself and dunked it... The Cosmos lead the game at half time by a single point. The Brattleboro Colonels pull away in the second half, shooting a ton of free throws. With the game winding down, #22 steals the ball in the back court on a press. While he pulls the ball free he turns and in one motion sends up an awkward looking hook shot from 20+ feet toward the basket and it miraculously rolls around the rim a couple of times and falls in. His only two points of the game. The Brattleboro player looks at him in disbelief and all he does is smile, trying not to laugh. On the ensuing possession #22 commits his fifth foul and is sent to the bench. Fouled out. His season and his beloved high school hoops career ignanimously over. His dream of playing in Burlington for a State Title gone.

pic - The 1978-79 Springfield Cosmos Boys Varsity Basketball Team:
Back row left to right: Coach Richie Wyman, Kurt Rushton, Pete Hake, Kurt Martin, Bob Frawley, Chris Wood, Ben Mellish, Mike Porter, Scott Harrison, Manager Kirk Messer
Front row: co-captains Brad Lockwood and Glenn Cioffi.
(source: SHS 1979 Yearbook)

Flash forward thirty years to the winter of 2009.

That scrawny kid is now 47 years old, with a family, college tuition for his daughter due, a mortgage and a two hour round-trip commute. He has been through an awful lot in three decades - but he still plays pickup hoops and he loves to shoot this (not so) new thing called "The Three". And he still remembers. He gets an email from his sister with a link to a website that is going to show a Vermont high school basketball game *live* online on February 28, 2009. The Springfield Cosmos are playing.

He logs in and watches the whole game and he remembers.

The 2009 Springfield Cosmos boys varsity basketball team is playing for the Division II Vermont State Championship against the Vergennes Commodores. The title games are now played at the Aud in Barre, the home of the semi-pro Vermont Frost Heaves. The #4 seed Cosmos come out and play well against a strong #2 seed Commodores team, but somehow trail by one point at half time. The Cosmos defense then shuts down the Commodores and hold them to eight points total in the second half and crush them 59-31. An absolutely brilliant game is played by #22 for the Cosmos, who totally dominates, scoring 13 points in the third quarter alone and finishes with 33 points - outscoring Vergennes single-handedly. He makes five three pointers. The Cosmos had won their first boys State Championship in basketball in 49 years!

pic- The scoreboard at the Aud. The Cosmos as Guests victorious.
(source: Vic Baskevich)

The 47 year old #22 sits at his computer in disbelief. He has just watched his dream come true! But it is only a dream. And like a dream, he is not really there. He is not being interviewed on TV and he is not holding a shiny trophy over his head as the townspeople rise as one and cheer him. It is someone else living his dream. Same number, but the younger #22 is much bigger - 6'2" and probably weighs 180+ - and eminently more talented in every way.


pic - 2009 - #22 for the Cosmos jumps center for the Cosmos in the opening tip against Mill River. Who is this guy?! (source: http://www.sevtsports.net)



pics - #22 dominating the boards against the Mill River Rats in the quarterfinal game. He does it all. (source: http://www.sevtsports.net)

pic - #22 takes down a rebound to add on to his 33 point performance against Vergennes in the state title game. You can watch the full game archive here. Incredible!
(source: http://www.sevtsports.net)

The younger #22 is named Grant White. Now an instant Cosmo legend, if you say his name fast it even sounds like "Green 'n White". Incredibly, he broke #23 Greg Birsky's career scoring record. Grant was the star quarterback on the SHS Football team that won the State Title in that sport just months earlier. (In November, I wrote about the SHS state championship in football here.) Grant is the pride of the small town. He is described by town elders as, "One of the nicest and best athletes I've ever seen. good kid, good family, good grades. Still deciding whether to play football or basketball in college. Lots of interest in him."

The older #22 sighs and mumbles to himself... well, at least I got good grades.

GO COSMOS!

Grateful Red in Takebe, Japan

pic - Mark in his element, with the cutoff jeans, Red Sox Wild Card t-shirt, mike in hand with a locals only jam band at his back. Probably channeling Neil Young better than Neil himself. Ya think this man has it figured out?

I'm proud of my little brother, Mark. He's found his place in this crazy mixed-up world. He's my only brother and I've sometimes thought I love him like a son, too. Yeah, I know. Weird. But I know he's pretty darn happy right now where he is, and that's really all anyone can ever ask for in life - to be happy. Not rich, not famous, just happy as a pig in slop.

He just moved from Ground Zero in Hiroshima, a big city in Japan, to the countryside of Okayama Prefecture in a tiny village called Takebe. His wife Yumi inherited her parent's home there and they fixed it up. They moved there at the end of January and are settling in. Yumi works in the women's clothing department of a major department store in the city of Okayama. Mark is re-starting his English Conversation School business there. He just sent me a link to his website he'll use to advertise. Here it is:
http://web.me.com/harrissongs/Site/Welcome.html
Check it out.


The house in Takebe. Nice!

Representing the Red Sox Nation at a Hiroshima Carp game. Go Sox!