Friday, December 14, 2018
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Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Small Town Sports
Small Town Sports
Neah Bay, on the Makah Reservation a basketball town really, but crazy about football. No, not really, just supportive of the kids, no matter what the sport. We play B-8 football, just lost 42-40 in overtime to Columbia Hunters, despite a 3-3 record going into the play-offs. How did we make the play-offs? That is a long and curious story. Did we belong? Well, Columbia Hunters was undefeated, rated second in State and we took them into overtime. That's why they play the game.
Neah Bay is back in B-8 football for the second season, after spending two seasons in the B-11 classification. B-8 is for schools with less than 100 students in grades 9 - 12. Three years ago we exceeded that population and it almost killed our program.
For two years we languished without a league, without much of a schedule and with kids losing interest in playing at all. Can a program ever really die? Ask Joyce, I'm sorry, I mean Crescent -- the team 2nd closest down the road, but still an hour's drive. The Loggers won the B-8 championships, won the B boys and girls track champions all in one year. We ended their football domination in a play-off game played in Clallam Bay, our nearest competitor, 19 miles down the road, but about a 30 minute drive, (only if you do the speed limit). While we won the game, I believe their program lost it's steam when the community of Joyce invited Soccer into their midst. Participation declined for football until they could no longer field a youth football team. Most people would call it Little League football, but "Little League" is a description legally claimed by Little League baseball, and since we are small communities without deep pockets, we had no choice but to go to Youth football, needing to avoid litigation. Imagine, litigation at kids sports. Yes, in America it can happen.
Columbia-Hunters, the team we lost to by two in overtime in the semi-finals was beat by LaCrosse-Washtucna
(13-0) 56- 8 in the state B-8 final. The game was called in the fourth quarter, even though the 45 point "mercy" rule is suspended for the Play-offs. I guess a two point loss beats an old fashioned whipping, but who am I to say?
The Neah Bay Warriors, our youth team won the A team and B team division championships. It's been a few years since we've won, but we've won more championships than any other of the communities. We are the smallest community in the league.
I became involved in sports when we lived in Alexandria, Virginia. My Dad was asked if he'd like to help with a local little league baseball program. He said yes, and when we showed up for the first day he was asked if he'd like to help. He again said yes, and he was told to pick out 25 kids from a sea of boys milling around a baseball field. They would be his baseball team. From helping out to being the head coach, in the blink of two yes's.
Dad didn't get to me before I was picked by another father who had said yes, maybe more than one time too. We came to the field a family, and left as competitors. I was only nine years old, I was happy and scared to be on a team, and disappointed I wasn't on my Dad's team. Practice dates were set and a league schedule was made and we were on our way to playing baseball.
I don't remember a lot about my first team, except that we were named the Astros. I did get excited that after one practice we were told we would be getting our uniforms at the next practice. I was disappointed that the uniform turned out to be a t-shirt and a baseball cap. I was a fan of the Washington Senators -- I watched them on TV, we went to a few games, I knew what a baseball uniform looked like. I'm not sure my Dad got to watch my first game. Our schedules didn't mesh, he may have been coaching his first game while I was playing mine. I do know that at my first games with the Astros I found out how other kids could be mean. We were the ASS-tro nuts, Asssssssssss-tro's, Ass you name it they called it and they parents seemed to think it was all funny. It was the mid sixties where going to school meant just a few years in the past meant air raid drills where you went to the basement of the school or duck and cover and I didn't know anything that any of that meant. I only remembered going to rooms with big yellow and black signs posted at their entrance. So, those parents, probably needed the laugh.
In order to get our lives on one schedule, Dad worked out a trade between the coach of the Astros and his team. I think Dad was coaching a kid who's father was coaching on the Astros. I hope neither one of us were the player to be named later. I traded my red cap and t shirt for Dad's green cap and t shirts. Turns out Jerry Seinfeld was right, you don't root for a team, your root for their laundry.
We didn't win the league that year. I think we played for the championship. I pitched, (my Dad was the coach, so of course I pitched) and I played first base. We lost to a team whom Dad said was full of babe ruth aged rejects. I only remember they were bigger than us, except for one pitcher. His name was Mark and he had only a few fingers on his catching hand. How he held his glove on amazed me. Dad used to grumble after we lost, that some of the kids shaved before they played the game. Mark was in my grade at Hollin Hall Elementary, and we found out he lived only a few blocks down the road from us. He was the only male friend I had. I lived in a cul de sac where six houses lining the circle. Four housed were in the cul de sac, two of the homes were really on the main street. One guy lived next door who was near my age. He lived with his Mom, I never met his Dad or why only his Mom lived there. He had this great collection of army men. He would set them up to play war just like I did. Only he would use his hand to knock down all the toy soldiers, ending the war in only seconds. I liked to shoot things one at a time from one side to another. I could do it for hours. John decided to hit me over the head with a pipe one day, I didn't see much of him after that.
My Mom and Dad became friends with the Redihoughs. They lived in the house directly across the circle. I never knew who lived to the right of their home. Next to that one was John's house then our house, then the house on the corner. The house on the corner had a girl about my age, by the name of Cindy, could have been Sandy. The house to the left of the Redihoughs, also on the corner and more on the main street then in the cul de sac, was home to another girl my age. Her name was Sandy, or maybe Cindy. I have three sisters. Sandy and Cindy were my close friends. Mark was down the street, and across the street, so I'd have to get a ride to go there. Mark wore sweaters to school. I tried emulating him and began to wear sweaters too. That became a pattern in my life, trying to emulate someone I looked up to.
Mark's Dad heard about my Dad's complaint about his older team, and Mark didn't like me wearing sweaters like he did, so our friendship was short lived.
Besides losing to Mark's team and the Asssss - tros of the first game, I don't remember a lot about that first season. I do remember we played our home games at Hollin Hall. They had two baseball diamonds on the school grounds. We showed for a game against another team who didn't get all of its players to show up. They forfeited the game and we filled out their team for them with kids from our team. I got to pitch against Dad's team. The team I pitched on won the game.
Living in the D.C. area I grew up a fan of the Washington Senators who always lost to the Yankees, well, to everybody it seemed. My hero was Frank Howard, the home run hitting first baseman. I also liked Eddie Brinkman. What I didn't know was that the Senators I watched were an expansion team in 1961. It was this team that broke my heart when they moved to become the Texas Rangers in 1972. When we moved from D.C. to Neah Bay in 1967, my Mom and Dad told everyone that I was going to go back to Washington to become a Senator when I grew up. Despite the fact that I didn't really have any talent, the dream died with the move of the franchise.
Start here ==
Saturday, September 6, 1975 Went to Naselle to see first H.S., N.B.H.S. game. Very unorganized, disappointing 52 18 loss. Bob Divencenzo not an 8-man quarterback yet. Has a lot to learn. Kimm Brown, Randy Williams played excellent game. Mike Miniken may be out for year for hitting a ref. Had to drive from Neah Bay to Naselle to Seattle. Met Mr. & Mrs. Willard. Seem to be doing fine. Kevin made starting varsity on Naselle F.B. team. Arrived in Seattle 8:30 PM. Went to Motel, watched Cabaret.
I know this is boring stuff, but it is interesting for me to relive. This team had a world of promise, but a wayward trip to Naselle killed all or most of it's potential. I met Dan Greene at this game and didn't know it. He apparently suited up at half time and played the second half. I don't remember his number or whether I got any stats for him from that game.
Sunday, September 7, 1975 Ate at Sambos with parents. Went from there to Husky Stadium. Watched Cleveland Browns beat N.Y. Giants 24 20. Good game! Took off for Tacoma after saying bye to parents and Mel at Stadium. Came off I-5 and wandered around Tacoma until I found U.P.S. Ready to watch F.B. (Washington vs. N.Y. Jets) on TV Preparing for classes tomorrow, then hit the sack! Am very, very tired
Sambo's, can you imagine a Sambo's now a days? They had good breakfasts, but their name and motif sure was non-PC. That Cleveland Giant game was an NFL try-out to see if there was interest in Seattle for a team. The Seahawks didn't exist yet. Looks like I spent a l ot of time, "very, very tired...."
Wednesday, March 9, 1977 - I became a season ticket holder for the Seattle Seahawks. Since their beginning I have not missed any of their games. I have either seen them live or on TV. I again will be a season ticket holder this year.
Neah Bay got a new coach this year. His name is Ron Johnson. I think he has helped turn the sports program around, with help from Mark Hottowe his assistant. The football team won only one game, but it was the first win in 2 years. The team finally got to play on their home field, the first time in 3 years! And lights were installed! This came about with the work of Ron Johnson. The team looked like a team, played like a team and acted like a team. There were a few breakdowns, as to be expected, but with a little luck they could have had a .500 season. Wait 'til next year. On October 5th on my way back to U.P.S. I was in a car accident. It was a no fault affair, no one was hurt, though I had a sore neck, back and a headaches for weeks. The Maverick was in the shop for weeks and I took the LTD to school. While I had it, I had a rip-off experience to do with the wiper system. This cost us about $80 for a bad switch that was only $4.
I, of course, am living in our trailer. Though it is lonely at times, I enjoy the solitude. My attitude is 100% than last year. I do have this problem, fat, but I'm working on it. The trailer was flooded 3 times. Twice when the water pump broke and once when the pipe burst when the weather froze. I was hit and the trailer was knocked off its stands, while I was inside. It scared me to death. It is also going to cost $189 to get it fixed. I bungled the situation, by not calling the police. The man gave me a false name, so now our insurance is going to have to pick up the bill.
So far this year I have had the muffler fall off, the alternator go bad and the thermostat go bad. The more things that go bad the more I learn about the car.
A very sad and tragic event took place last winter. Two of the nicest young people, married, were taken from us, due to an automobile accident. It happened on Thanksgiving Day. I was still sleeping when Mel came in and told me that there was a car accident, that Neil Parker had died and they didn't know if Starr was going to make it. As it turned out both had died on impact. It was all too hard to believe, too much to take. I was by myself for most of the day. Mom was with Uncle Gene, Mel was at practice and Dad was working on something. This kind of loss is incomprehensible. You never know when death is going to strike close to you. It is harsh, merciless. It never makes sense. The question is always, "Why?" The question never seems to be answered adequately. This time, death brought twice as much sorrow. Two families suffered much, much pain. The funeral was held in the high school gym. It was a closed casket ceremony, a very sad day. The town was very close that day. Feelings ran deep for both families It is still hard to believe they are gone. They were loved so. Why?
It is so hard to write about such things. Feelings are so hard to put on paper. But one must go on. So let me now turn to Basketball. The season was good for the boys and even better for the girls. The boys finished 4th in the league (out of five teams). But this earned them a spot in the league tournament. Their first game was against Clallam in Clallam. They lost to Clallam by 8 points. It was their 5th loss to Clallam. But according to everyone it was the best game Neah Bay played all year. I wasn't there to see the game. One of 3 I missed. I volunteered my services to keep the score-book. And keep the score I did. Three games a night for almost 20 games. I liked the experience; it kept me close to the teams and to Mel of course. The second round of the Tourney was held in Port Angeles. We played Quilcene. It was our 3rd meeting; they had beaten us twice, by healthy scores. The loser of the game was out. We didn't lose. We beat Quil by 4 points. It was the best game I ever saw the team play. Unfortunately the spell did not last. For Clallam overwhelmed us for a sixth time, and earned a birth to district, and consequently to State. There they lasted only 2 games. Mr. Harold Van Riper's career as the Bruin coach had ended. Chimacum lasted for 2 games. Our boys ended the season 9 - 14, Fair!
The girls ended the season tied for second with Quilcene. They had beaten Quil at home, and a win against Quil in Quil would have given the girls a playoff game with Pt. Townsend for the right to go to district. They lost to Quil by having a very bad game. Had they hit 30% of their 81 shots they would have wiped Quil out. As it was they hit less than 20 %. They played a good game the next night against Chimacum but fell short. This set up a playoff against Quil on Monday for the right to play Pt. Townsend on Tuesday. This was their 3rd game in 4 nights. Again they were cold. It was a good game, but Quil prevailed. Quil and Chimacum worked their way through district and met each other for the right to go to state. Chimacum lasted 3 games at state. Next year there will be a girl's B tourney only. I think Neah Bay will be there. Ron Johnson did it again! I can't wait until next year. Monday, October 24, 1977
I continue writing about the summer's events. But first let me talk about the day's events. I had tow mid-term tests today. One in Marketing, the other in Art. The first test came in marketing. There were 25 fill in the blank questions. I found 21 of them were easy, I answered partially and skipped the other 2. They are worth 3 points apiece. The essay question was worth 25 points. I completely blew this. It asked for an explanation of McNeal's consumer behavior mode. What I used in my essay was the wrong model, as I found out after class. This is a test to forget. The Art test was postponed until Wednesday. My other classes are Management and Intermediate Accounting. The Accounting class isn't going all that great. I am finding textbook accounting not all that great. Back to summer.
I was home from U.P.S. before school at home was out. The Letterman's club had their banquet, instead of giving letters each participant received a small statuette. A trophy for MVP, Inspiration and Coaches Award was given in each sport. The cheerleaders gave Mom a trophy for her support and I got a plaque for my support. Melonee received a number of trophies. ---
Graduation was the next big event. It was a very small, seemingly uncomfortable group of graduates. Ollie Kallappa began with a few words, barely heard because of the PA system. James Allen followed with a nervous but fine speech. And Judy Ray, the class Valedictorian delivered a very moving speech, the best I have ever heard. Marshall Cutsforth was the guest speaker. He was accompanied that evening by his son Chris who, although wearing a neck brace for injuries received in a car accident, still commanded considerable interest from Mel and Lawanda. Chris wanted to see his former classmate, Mark and Lester, but as Crystal Ray states so frankly, "Mark saw how tall you were and was ashamed," or something of that nature. Kimm Brown and David Morton were Junior Marshals and they looked sharp in their black tuxes. Mr. Bigelow felt they went a little over board. Loy was there and she really looks good. She has lost some pounds and she made me feel ashamed.
I went to work soon after. I found myself in an overcrowded office. Patty Buckingham, Janet Tollerud, Ron Markishtum, Kibby Lawrence and Mark Thurston were all working in the accounting department. There was really nothing for me to do. Work was quiet for most of the year, but fireworks came later. I will write about this tomorrow.
Sunday, October 30, 1977
I haven't been feeling well the last couple of days. I was debating on whether or not to go to Seattle this morning to see the Seahawks play the Buffalo Bills. I decided to go and I am glad I did. I got to the stadium at about 12 Noon. People were pouring in to see OJ Simpson. As I walked inside I thought about the Tampa Bay game that I got to watch with my parents. Underneath the screen sat the Neah Bay Red Devil team. It was the first time I sat with someone I knew at a game. Seattle won the game
As I walked in the 100 level door I was looking for the first men's room. There it stood, right in front of me. Ah! Relief at last. Who was walking out as I walked in? None other than Stevie Cunningham. We talked a bit, found out where each other sat, I asked who else was here, he told me. We finally ran out of things to say, so he departs and I tend to my business. I went in and sat down. I looked up over my left shoulder and spotted the team. I went up and talked to Ron Markishtum for a couple of minutes. I then went back to my own seat and enjoyed watching Seattle clobber Buffalo 56 - 17! It was nice to see members of the team since I missed their game Friday night. They lost to Quilcene and are now 0 - 8, but they aren't that bad a team. I am looking forward to their homecoming against Joyce. The fireworks at work will come later.
Sunday, November 13, 1977
On Monday, November 7, 1977 a very close friend of mine died in Port Angeles at about 4:30 AM. Neah Jarrett died at the age of 43. She had pneumonia, lung problems, and a bad heart. Steve Schenk told me that when they got her to the hospital they thought the worst of it was over. She got to the hospital Sunday afternoon. It was quite a shock when she died so suddenly.
I had come home on Friday, November 4, for the High School's last football game of the season. This would be Ronnie's, Tate's, Gary and Kimm's last football game. Our boys took a 20 - 0 lead at halftime. But, Joyce came back to win the game 30 -20 in a very disappointing game. It was the homecoming game so I went to the dance. The dance was rather rowdy, and the band was terrible. Couples were changing partners like crazy. I found out that night that Kimm Brown had gotten Valerie Jo Ward pregnant. Jo had gotten an abortion against Kimm's wishes. The two had split up over it. Jim Jarrett and Michele are separated. Jim was at the dance with Joi Venske. Michele was in a car accident that night with Ollie Kallappa, Patti Martin in Jim's red Ventura, the car was a total wreck, but everyone got out of it okay.
For the first time in years, after observing the people at that dance, they were drunk, high or both, for the first time in years I thought Neah Bay just may not be the place for me to live.
Saturday was slow, and I though I might visit the Jarretts. I didn't, and I now so wish I did. We watched the Sonics get bombed in Portland. On Sunday we watched Oakland bomb the Seahawks. Our losses were piling up, but the most painful loss was yet to come. After the game we had a family dinner for Lynn. Monday was her birthday. After we ate I worked on homework, while Dad changed the tires on the Maverick. Time was going by fast, I was tired and decided to stay and leave the next day.
I woke up early and listened to the rest of the family get ready for the day's activities. The phone rang and Mom answered it. I heard her say, "Oh really!" in a very distressing tone. I thought something was wrong, I thought about Neah, I closed my eyes to try to wipe the feeling away. Dad came in the room and told me about Neah. He left and I began to cry. Mom came in before when went to school When she left I cried myself back to sleep.
When I woke up I went into the living room to watch TV. I thought about Jim, Jimmy, Raye, Helen and the rest of the family. My heart ached, as it down now. I hurt all over, and I cried, as I am now. I then concentrated on the TV and pulled myself together. Sharon Charles came by to see if I was all right. I assured her I was and she left. I felt so helpless, so all alone, oh how I hurt.
I pulled myself together so I gave an appearance of being all right when Mom and Mel came home for lunch. Mom told me we would visit the Jarrett's when she came home from school. I wasn't sure I was up to it, but I knew I had to see the family.
I drove by the Jarrett's house when I went to see Aunt Dorothy. Seeing the family's cars gathered together at Neah's home, the reality had shown through, the hurt stabbed deeper.
Mom came home and told me the family had gone to PA. She called Jim Cooke and he told Mom that Neah wanted only a small family service in PA and had asked to be cremated. The thought of cremation turned my stomach, but, since it was her wish, well, what could I say? Another thought struck me, Jim said it was to be a family service, might I be left out? This thought scared me, not seeing Neah again, ever. My fears were relieved when Mom, Jim and I visited Big Jim at his house. He told us of Neah's wishes and that the family had decided to follow them. But Jim told me that the only two people who would be exceptions for the family services were Bob Buckingham and myself. Helen told me that they would meet me there. I shook hands with Jim; hugged Helen and we left.
I decided to stay the week, because I didn't want to be alone. I was scared and hurt, and sorry and I wanted so much to see Neah again. To hear her voice, to touch her, to tell her how much I rally loved her. To let her know I prayed for her as I pray for he family now, to tell her I miss her, but it all seemed so useless, so unreal, but the pain was so real. I comforted myself with the thought that Neah was once again with Ethel. We miss them both, oh so dearly.
My thoughts drifted over my many memories of Neah. The volleyball nights, the community league, our many talks after these activities at the gym or in her car. The many trips, her love for sports her family took part in, especially Jimmy's participation. She talked about Jimmy often. Her family was so close and she was a main reason for this. The love between family members, their closeness, was all so beautiful. - And because of Neah, I was brought into this family. I cherished her friendship. We talked many, many times. We had dinner together, we saw movies together, and she was so good to me. She helped me in so many ways. I love her so much; she was a very, very special friend. The day will come when we will meet again; I look forward to that day. I will be ready.
Thursday was the day of the service. I rode into Port Angeles with Bob and Betsy. I walked into the funeral home and saw Jim, Steve, Raye, and the Dannel's. I saw all the flowers and Neah's casket. I was sick, sad, the pain, the hurt, the sorrow. I sat down by myself, alone, I felt so alone. The service was reassuring, beautiful. It came time to see Neah for the last time. Most of the Claplanhoo family had walked by already, Helen went up and broke, Moe was sitting in my aisle, but wouldn't go forward. I stepped by him and walked forward to where Neah lay. She looked so good, at peace, beautiful in her eternal rest. Seeing her brought me to tears, Kibby came to me, supported me and walked me away as I took my last look. I sat down and continued crying, but the tears couldn't wash the pain away. I sat, out of sight from where Neah lay. I didn't see Jim, Jimmy or Raye go forward, but I heard Jim break. I felt so helpless; I wanted to help him, but how? Jimmy and Raye looked very good. I had not seen either of them all week. My heart cried out to them. Their pain was greater than mine was.
We all left for a gathering at Haguewoods. We ate together and Nora sang for us as he had at the service. After we ate members of the group spoke and finally members of the family spoke. This custom helped a lot, eating together, sharing our thoughts, it all helped. Kibby was so good to me; she helped me so much.
Finally, it ended; everyone went through to shake hands with the family. I hugged Helen, gave her my support. She told me, "It's up to me to carry on Neah's work, I'll need your help." I told her anytime, anything and went to see Jim, Jimmy and Raye. Jim's niece was sitting with him. He introduced me to her as Neah's very special friend. I was glad to hear those words they helped. I shook his hand, Jimmy's hand and hugged Raye. Jimmy had an expression on his face that was very painful. You could see his hurt. I walked away. Steve said a few words to me, but I felt alone, like I was no longer part of the family. My closest links, Neah and Ethel are gone. I don't think they'd want me to stray away from their family. I will try to stay as close as I can.
Neah, I loved you. I miss you. The hurt is deep. I will remember you always. I will stay close to your family always. That's what you would have wanted. Your family is mine. I will love them as much as I loved you. Neah, I loved you so much. Watch over us, you will remain in my heart forever. Neah, I love you, I love you Neah.
I rode home with Moe.
Today my heart still aches. They say time heal all wounds. My wound is large the pain runs deep. It's hard to believe she's gone. I have Jimmy's picture in front of me. She gave me this picture for Christmas a few years ago. I can see Neah in Jimmy's face. The love for her son and daughter was great. They will miss her so, as I will. My heart, my prayers, my thought are with and for her family. How can the pain ever heal? By remembering her with love and through the gracious memories she leaves with us. She meant so much to me, so much. She helped me grow in many ways in a difficult time in my life.
The Community League, High School Sports, the Whalers, her family, myself, just won't be the same without her. She gave so much to her family, to her community, to me. We must pick up where she left off. Her burden was heavy. No one could replace her. It will take all of us to continue her work. Neah is gone; no it's not true. But it is true, I saw her, thank God she looked so well. I hope she did not have too much pain. I pray to God, I must believe, to be comforted with the thought that she is with Ethel again. Some day we will be together again, all of us, so that it may be like the old times.
Thursday, December 1, 1977
In two weeks from today I shall be on my way home for Christmas vacation. I have wanted to be home all this time, but school has prevented this. I started to get sick at or about the 12th or 13th. I haven't felt completely well any day since then. I was told I had bronchitis and it hasn't left yet. I am really looking forward to going home. Being here alone is hard, especially right now. The Thanksgiving break did me wonders. Talking, laughing, being around my family felt so good.
Our family left for Seattle on Friday the 25th. Mel and I came to the trailer where we watched USC beat UCLA 31 -29 (on a last second field goal) and put the Washington Huskies into the Rose Bowl. What a great start for the weekend! Later that night I took Mel to see Oh God! Which she enjoyed very much.
Sunday, January 8, 1978
Three weeks at home, the holidays spirit, my family and friends have done me wonders. My sickness disappeared. I had 4 TB skin tests taken, 3 came up negative and one came up semi-positive. (Neah Jarrett died of TB) But Mom thought it was just nerves, and maybe she was right since most of my aches and pains disappeared while I relaxed at home.
The tribe is running out of funds so college students were not given Christmas vacation jobs. I went to the center to inquire about a job anyway. I talked to Mark, he told me to talk to Kibby. The summer's fireworks I mentioned earlier in this book centered around Kibby. There was a bad scene, but it blew over and we remained friends. She helped me a lot at Neah's funeral. She feels something special for me, for what reason I don't know. She hired me on the spot, though he wasn't supposed to. Ben told me about the situation of the college students, but said I could work 'til the end of the week. I declined and worked only those four hours all vacation
I went home on the weekend of December 1. The high school played the Alumni on the 1st. But I will talk about the basketball teams later. Mom held a party for the staff and it was hilarious. I studied not a word all weekend and finals were coming up. I go through finals week with no snags. On Wednesday Mel had a BB game with Landgren Christian. I went up and saw her play. She came back to the trailer with me; I took my last test Thursday morning. The rest of the day was spent doing Christmas shopping and bowling. We went home on Friday December 16th for Clallam's Christmas Tournament. More on that later.
The next week seemed to last forever for my nieces as they waited in anticipation for Christmas. The big surprise came on Friday, December 23rd, Mom and Dad's anniversary. The piano Dad bought for Mom was delivered Friday morning. Mom was so surprised when she came home at lunchtime that she almost fell and she began to cry. It was a very touching scene to be witness to. Dad, Mel and Maria were all present. It was a great beginning to a fine holiday season.
The day before this scene, the house was full of students from Mom's classes. It was Mom's 3rd annual holiday party for her students. Over 100 students passed through our house. They ate, drank, played pool and played the TV game. A good time was had by all.
On Christmas Eve the Parker family had a progressive dinner. It all started at our house where hors d'oeuvres were served. Before we left the family sang as Maria played the new piano. We went to Auntie Joan's for soup and she served one of the best chowders I have tasted. Salad at Terry and Kitty's followed. It was the first time I had been in their trailer. It's size and space amazed me. But the best feature was the stereo system. I don't think I have heard any system that was better. Kitty put on the Manhattan Transfer. Mike danced briefly with Aunt Dorothy and with Patty. Patty dance with Joan Carol Joan presented me with a difficult problem. She has been messing around a lot and according to Dale has been chasing Henry. Now Dale has enough trouble without having Joan add to them. Having Joan around made me very uncomfortable. Putting that aside it was an enjoyable evening.
The main course was potluck at Grandpas. I skipped this to go see the Presbyterian's Christmas program. For me the high light of the evening was seeing Lawanda's baby for the first time. I had only learned that Lawanda was pregnant over the Thanksgiving Holiday. This explained her decision to go to Tacoma for school. When I returned on the 1st Mel told be about Lawanda's baby's birth. I was shocked. I figured she had a few more months to go before she was due. I felt bad for Wanda for the trouble she got herself in. Butch seems to care less, Wanda deserves better. Unfortunately, Wanda still goes wit Butch. This really steams me; Wanda meant a lot to me. I told her this through letters. What I didn't realize was the weight I put on and how it's made me look. She probably didn't give two looks my way. Mom was worried about Lois getting into the same trouble, but I found out Lois is on birth control pills.
Lawanda's little baby girl, Nicole is a beautiful little thing with dark complected skin and a full head of long black hair. It's a person anyone could love. Lawanda is still so young and at times may fell trapped by her daughter. Some members of the family have yet to full accept their niece, but that will come in time.
Christmas was a happy, satisfying day. After the Presbyterian program we went to Auntie Alice's for dessert. Oh, that was so good. We went home to finish wrapping, went to the Community Hall for the Community Program. We went home again, went to Ruth's for Hot Fudge Sundaes. We talked with the Buckingham's, who are moving from California back to the Northwest. We left there at 11:50 PM, wen home to prepare for the next day's festivities.
Christmas brought a little sadness as I though of Ethel and Neah. I saved the gift given to me by Big Jim for last and am writing this page with that gift. The loss of these two people has hit so hard, and will for a long time to come.
Now let me turn to something that has grown close to my heart, and a person who is becoming a very close to me as friend. I am talking about Neah Bay Basketball teams and "Coach," Ron Johnson. The first game was against the Alumni from the '70's.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Why Can't I?
Can I call it my Church any more? Really? I haven't attended in such a very long time. The event that always brings me back in touch, going to American Indian Fellowship (AIF) summer camps was not to be this past summer. It was the first camps I had missed in eight years. Even in going to the camps though, I had feared what I had become what I had accused me of becoming, a "Camp Christian." A Christian who gets all fired up just before, during and after camp, but goes into hibernation for the rest of the year. A time when even lukewarm would be a step up.
Let's go back to this past week -- I am doing stats again for the the Neah Bay football team. I started doing this for the team in the 1977 season and continued for 28 years until 2005. I was forced to take off for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 before beginning again in 2008 for the last five games of that season and now this year, 2009 for the whole season. I say forced, but it was by my own doing, a bad decision I made and it was costly to my family, friends and loved ones. When I make bad decisions, they never seem to just affect me. As I write this we are now four games into the new High School football season. Last week I was trying to get caught up with posting game stats and getting year to date stats for all games played. Football stats are a lot different from Basketball stats, I do basketball stats too, and I missed one more season of Basketball then football over the past 30 years, again, due to my bad decision making. Football stats during a game are a matter of who's carrying the ball, how many yards was gained or lost, and when the other team has the ball, who on your team has made the tackle. Recording the activities of a game reach close to 150 plays per game. After the game, you have to take the game stats and turn them into individual stats and also meet newspaper deadlines. Post game work can take up to 90 minutes; but I love every minute!
In the past I have put my game and season stats on Turbo stats for both football and basketball the years just before I took a couple seasons off. I found my software for Basketball, but the software for football seems to have disappeared. Therefore, I've had to put the football stats on Excel, and now I need to develop a year to date spreadsheet. It is work I really enjoy doing, but it's time consuming and takes me away from computer time, where I have another passion. At least this is a decision that one cannot consider a bad one. I had a card table out with the football stats on it, with the great new book that the McCaulley's bought me for this season and took three evenings to get all three of the first games completely computerized. I could have done it faster, but I have had the propensity to stay up until two a.m. and three a.m. a couple of nights last week and I was sitting there dog tired trying to get a meticulous task done. Kenrick is constantly on me about the stats, and why not, he is an assistant coach and he does have two sons on the team. Of course, he wants to see how they are doing and he wants to correct any mistakes I have made. I still have last years stats for the five games I did to complete for the team, and when I get them done I will be out of debt to Kenrick. Ah, that's another story and another set of decisions I have made, though not necessarily bad, were certainly juvenile.
Ever since I found MySpace I have tried to post a daily blog called "Before, After and Between Camps". This refers to the AIF camps I mentioned above. I have helped my wife co-direct Junior / Kids Camp for the past five years, and have worked in the kitchen at Teen Camp for the past eight years. My wife has cooked with her Mom for a few years longer then that before she finally got me to go. I took a year off and then couldn't stay away after that. You just know when you have been called to do God's work and it is where you belong. We take vacation time from our jobs to be at camp, they last a week at the end of June, then we have a week back at work and then it's another week at Junior / Kids camp. Vacation time! Ha! We get up earlier, work harder and go to bed later while at camp, but it is such a refreshing time, the work is all worth it.
You feel like you have only a week to show the campers God's love, to give them the love you have through Jesus for that week. While the work is hard and Friday comes too fast, you wish you could stay and take care of all of them all year round. Some of them have such difficult lives at home, that sending them back to it is hard to do. Most of the campers have access to computers somewhere, somehow, so I began a daily blog of devotions I receive by e-mail and I re-post them to MySpace to remind them that every day, God is still there with them, that every day they can turn to Him in prayer. We keep our doors open to all campers, our phone lines open and welcome them into our homes when they visit our village.
To post this MySpace blog I weigh through my incoming e-mail, re-posting the devotionals, quotes and a daily prayer to the MySpace blog. Getting through my daily e-mail can be time consuming and at times posting the blog takes me late into the night. Now I have MySpace, Facebook, this blog site and numerous others. Checking them all, keeping them all up to date can be time consuming. I refer to this as my "computer time."
I have many friends, many good friends through camp, through MySpace and came late into the "IM" generation. Texting and IMing seemed so foreign to me. Now I am just as bound to text or IM as anybody else. When I was banned from taking stats and doing the Basketball score-book, my wife also had me cut back on IMing. I had been into e-mailing and forwarding jokes, inspirational stories, devotions, but I also was forwarding stuff that was considered R-rated. I tried to keep that stuff to a minimum, and I did it as a matter of acceptance. That's my excuse anyways. I caught in trouble when I sent an adult e-mail to juveniles. It cost me my job, cost me doing stats at the high school, and many in our village had assumed I had an addiction to porno on the computer. At least that was the rumor that was going around. In any case, due to the e-mail, a mother felt I was possibly grooming her son and it cost me, my family dearly. I was fired from my job. I went to Church the next Sunday and asked the Pastor to take me through the sinner's prayer once more. I felt I had a need to start over.
My wife asked me twice to move out over the period of two weeks after I was fired. I agreed to do so, and even arranged to move back in with my parents if I needed to; though when it came down to it, she really couldn't let me go out the door. God has blessed me with a wonderful wife. My kids were against my moving out and we sat down one night and talked our way through it.
While seeking God's forgiveness once again was the right thing to do, the hardest lesson I always have is forgiving myself. When it seemed all that I held dear to me was taken away, God still stood by me, my wife and family still stood by me and now we are reaching a point where I am feeling restored again. It's been a long road, but with God by my side it has been the right road. This doesn't mean I've made all the right choices since then, but it does mean that when I fail, when I fall, I don't mind looking for that hand to help me get back up again. God always provides a hand, from family or friends with outstretched hands to bring me back to my feet.
Using MySpace to get stay in touch with campers was the what I used it for initially. Through it, I have found three very good friends. Through it I have found people looking up to me as a "father figure". When I started going to camp, I felt that one of the callings that God has giving to me is to work with kids, especially young men, who didn't have fathers or male influences in their lives for one reason or another. I tried to provide an ear, to listen to them. If they had a father, I never tried to replace him, I just tried to be the male mentor they could turn to. Most times that is all they needed. In many ways, "one click" caused me many heartaches... the sending of that e-mail, and it tested my ability to work with those I felt called to work with. The restoration period is long, and I still am careful how I work with, talk with youth. Making sure that no accusation of impropriety can be made. On the positive side, one click led me to Drew, and his friendship led me to Ryan. One click led me to Brady. Brady is a young man who lives in Texas, is planning to get married in January 2010. For the past few weeks, we have almost communicated on a daily basis. It's a friendship that spans age, I'm 52, he's 19; distance, he's in Texas, I'm in Washington state; and culture; I'm native American, he's white and he's described himself as a "red neck". lol. In any case, what we have in common is our faith; our similarities in our high school years are interesting. We agree on a lot, disagree on very little. We do enjoy communicating with each other and we've come to depend on each other for prayer, advice and agree that this "one click" that has meant a lot to both of our lives.
I stay up late reading e-mails, posting blogs, and chatting with Brady. I stayed up late one night kicking myself for yet another set of bad decisions I made in my life, and the disappointment it brought to certain family members. Brady helped me see that it was okay to forgive myself. He had the outstretched hand God had provided to pick me up this time. Ryan was the other outstretched hand. I talked to Ryan after Brady signed off, (after all he is two hours ahead of me in time, though he assures me he would be up anyway.) ONE should never get used to failing, but in this case, I thank God for Brady being there to help me when I did fail. Brady wrote that many go to him when they need help, and he has no one to turn to when he is in need. I made sure he knew I would always be there for him. Problems or no problems I am here for him.
We promised each other we would hold each other accountable for going to Church. Brady has moved recently, but I have no excuse. We haven't been very good at doing this. Why can't I get myself back to Church is the real topic of this blog. Watching football has been fun, entertaining, but when your team loses, it leaves you empty. Even when they win, it's not as fulfilling as going to Church always is. In the end football, as Solomon would say, is meaningless. Church, faith, God is far from meaningless, and I need to get back to the work God would have me do. Brady, you need to remind me to do so. And Brady, you have your own work for God to do, and I shall be here to help you find what it is, and to help you do it when it gets tiring, burdensome, or even boring. God Bless you Brady, He has blessed me with your friendship.