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Renaissance Man


“I picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons against what I hated most about the universe: racism, intolerance, poverty,” he once said.

It wasn’t just that Gordon Parks, who died yesterday, did any of the things that he did, even if he was “The pre-eminent American photojournalist of sub-Saharan descent.”

It was that he did SO many things and did them well.

Others have noted some of his other LIFE magazine covers, or his work on the movie Shaft. The image I remember the best is this photo by Parks of a woman named Ella Watson. He was an extraordinarily inspirational figure to me for as long as I can remember.

ROG

Becky & Rico


“March 7?” That’s what I said to my sister when she told me.

Last year on that date, I know EXACTLY what I was doing: attending the wedding of my niece Becky (sister Leslie’s daughter) and Rico Curtis. The wedding was on a MONDAY, and the same day as my birthday, but NOT because it was my birthday. It has to do with uniform numbers – Rico was number 37 when he was a defensive back with San Diego State, and later with the San Diego Riptide of the Arena Football League. Becky was number 5 when she played basketball with Berkeley, which is why they’re getting married in ’05. The wedding was scheduled for 3:57 PM.

My flight was the previous Friday. For monetary reasons, and because Carol could take off only so many days as a teacher, and because we were unsure about a transcontinental trip with a less-than-one year old, it was a solo trip.

Leslie picks me up during the rainiest day I’ve ever spent in San Diego. The next day, she, her friends and I arrange table ornaments – it’s a football and basketball theme.

Sunday, Leslie gets sick and goes to an urgent care place. There’s actually an urgent care place around there that is open only Monday through Friday, negating most of the NEED to go there. I stayed home and made a bunch of phone calls.

Sunday night, before the rehearsal dinner, the mothers of the bride and groom are negotiating who shall be mentioned in the program, which Mrs. Curtis would have printed overnight. Our family is fairly small. Three of my mother’s first cousins were present and Leslie was angling to have them included. After a bit of haggling, it was agreed.

My mother and I stayed at the hotel where the wedding was being held. The day of the wedding, my mother, of course, wishes me a happy birthday. We all attend to various last-minute details.

Just before the ceremony, one of my mother’s cousins was the first to look at the program. The cousins were included, but guess who was inadvertently left off?

Me.

After the lovely wedding, while we were at the reception, Rico’s mom comes to me. She’s one of those people who never apologize, she noted. But she made it clear that the omission of my name was totally accidental. I did believe her.

A couple weeks later, I receive about a dozen copies of the program with my name included. Rico’s mom had them reprinted!

Happy anniversary, Beck and Rico. I’ve (almost) gotten used to sharing the day with you, and in any case, I’ll never FORGET the date of your vows.

ROG

Baseball notes


  • The World Baseball Classic is being aired today: Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela on ESPN at 1 pm, EST, Mexico vs. the US on ESPN2 at 4 pm EST. I was really excited about the concept of a real “world” series, and hope to catch part of this.
  • Seventeen people, including 12 players and 5 executives, were selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame from the Negro Leagues. One of them is Effie Manley, the first woman in the Hall. I’ve actually owned her biography, “Effie Manley and the Newark Bears” by James Overmyer since 1993, according to the inscription from a friend of mine, though I’ve only now begun to read it. Interestingly, Overmyer was on the panel that selected Manley.
    12 players were selected, but they didn’t select Buck O’Neil? He’s been a tireless ambassador for the league, and is still alive to enjoy being in the Hall, unlike the ones who were chosen.
  • Popular former baseball player Kirby Puckett died yesterday. He played his whole major league career with my father-in-law’s favorite team, the Minnesota Twins. He had some difficulties after his career was over, but remained a well-beloved player because of his great attitude, despite the glaucoma that shortened his career. On a totally selfish note, I hate it when people younger than I die, especially from something like a stroke.

    • ROG

    I’m 53


    In case you just tuned in, today’s my birthday. Born in ’53, turning 53.

    In our local Hearst paper, they always run this poem in August on the anniversary of the death of some founder. I think my tradition will be that I will quote a section from one of my favorite books, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit by Henri J.M. Nouwen, a Canadian theologian who died in 1996. (Copyright 1994, published by The Crossroad Publishing Company.)

    I share this passage about birthdays, not only for my sake, but, I hope, for yours as well:

    Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: “Thank you for being you.” Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: “Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.” No, we say: “Thank you for being born and being among us.”
    …
    Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people’s birthdays every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are ways of saying: “It’s good that you are alive; it;s good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let’s be glad and rejoice. This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together.”
    ***
    Oh, and thanks, good friend Fred for your kind words today. I assume the use of the color green in the headline was no accident.

    ROG

    T-1, 2006


    Obviously. I’ve confused many of you (well, not near-twin Gordon, whose birthday is today. ) MY birthday is tomorrow. Yesterday, I noted that those folks turn whatever they turn on TUESDAY. I think I was being too clever by half. I’ll stop. After tomorrow.

    As for tomorrow, I’m taking it off from work. It’s a tradition I started when I was an intern at the Albany Housing Authority back in 1980. There were a lot of strange stuff there, but one of the more civilized things they did was to give one’s birthday as a paid vacation day.

    On a normal birthday, I’d get up and play racquetball for an extended time, go home to eat breakfast, read magazines and/or newspapers, watch unwatched recorded television, maybe catch a movie. Or get a massage – boy, I could use a massage.

    Not this year.

    I’m taking Lydia to her follow-up visit to the doctor for her ear infection, then taking her to day care.

    At noon at the library, there’s a tease for a program by Albany Pro Musica called “Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc”. The actual performance is on Friday.

    Since I’m in the building, and since I’m on the board of the Friends of the Albany Public Library, I’m going to help the person who does the new blog for the library.

    I’m hoping there will be time to work on MY blog as well.

    I may go to this at the west wing of Albany Law School at 4:

    The ALS Civil Liberties Union, Black Law Student Association, and the Student Lawyers Guild invite you to a DOUBLE screening of “DISSENT” AND “RACIAL PROFILING”

    “Dissent,” tells the stories of everyday Americans who were practicing their right to free speech and protest only to be thwarted, harassed, attacked, or arrested. “Racial Profiling,” documents real people caught up in an illegal practice that destroys families, careers, and the peace of mind that most Americans take for granted.

    Sandwiches, soda, and wine provided between these two 30 minute videos.

    About The ACLU Freedom Files:

    The American Civil Liberties Union and award-winning Producer/Director Robert Greenwald’s have created an unprecedented new series called The ACLU Freedom Files. In ten 30-minute episodes, this series explores pressing issues that threaten the civil liberties of all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. The ACLU Freedom Files features well-known actors, comedians and activists, along with actual litigants and the attorneys who represent them. For more information about the series, visit www.aclu.tv.

    This event is free and open to the public.

    The invitation came with this:

    “WARNING: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant or notice. The agency may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight.”

    Then home for whatever special dinner my dear wife has planned.

    Of course, almost every time I lay out such a specific plan, something will come up to mysteriously alter it. Wish me luck.

    ROG
    Ramblin' with Roger
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