Texas Forever

On the website TV WITHOUT PITY, a columnist said, "How do you summarize perfection?" in reference to the NBC series FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. People who made it a requirement to be seated at the 5o yard line every Friday to follow the amazing people of Dylan, Texas, who came to life in the five seasons of FNL, must agree. I wouldn't begin to attempt a summary of the stories of the Dylan Panthers, who begot the East Dylan Lions, of the lives of Coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tammy, of Tim Riggins, Jason Street, Lila and Buddy Garriety, Matt Saracen, Julie Taylor, Landon, Tyra, Bobby, Vince, Smash, and so many more. I do believe that the concluding episode, which aired last Friday, was as perfect an act of TV closure as I can imagine. When at the end of the special hour and half finale, Vince threw a "Hail Mary" up into the lights, it spiraled down and reminded us that compromise is a must in marriage, that marriage should be about spending your life with your best friend, that forgiveness is good and essential, that dreams can be made of timber and cement on a Texas hillside and put together with nails, beer and brotherly love, that there comes a time that you must put away the great moments of the past and start fresh in a different kind of uniform, that you just might fall in love with somebody when you're both 5 years old and still be in love when you both turn 20, that hard work is rewarded, and sometimes you really do earn what you deserved. That is only a small part of the list of important things that one can learn from watching FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, a TV show that transcended the good movie and great book, that it was based on, to become for me the best damn show since THE SOPRANOS, which was the best damn show since HILL STREET BLUES. FNL offered the best damn ending, although THE SOPRANOS came pretty close. Let's hoist a Lone Star. Texas Forever!!

The Passing of a Student and Friend

This dismal April day seems fitting to mourn the passing of my student and friend, Sasha Shuebrooke. A member of the CHS Class of 2000, Sasha was good and bright and brave. I found out about Sasha's death in a troubling way. I saw her birthday notice on the left column of my FACEBOOK home page and clicked on it. As I typed a short birthday wish, I looked down the page of other birthday wishes and soon realized that most were wishing Sasha well and hoping she was happy "with the angels" or "wherever you may be." I knew without asking what this meant, but I sent off a message to the person directly below my entry on Sasha's wall. In minutes, he responded, sadly informing me that Sasha had died in early December, 2010. Later, I received an e-mail from her mom explaining more of the circumstances of her death.

Now, a bright spring day would be right for celebrating Sasha's life. A day with sun and a breeze and the smells of flowers and summer! Sasha was so intelligent and creative! A poet! A dancer! A caring person who was great fun to talk with! And Sasha was very brave. Since high school, her life had taken her to New England, to Australia, to Washington, D.C., to northern California, I believe, and finally to San Diego. In her new courageous life, Sasha was a different person, yet, she was the same.

A few years ago, Sasha took a new name. She became Gavi Reichen, and more recently, S.G. Reichen, I guess to keep the name "Sasha" in play. We kept in touch through the years, first with e-mails and then by FACEBOOK, so, I was aware of the interesting turns her life took. I filled out a couple of employment recommendations for her over the years as she searched for the right field to fit her terrific brain and terrific personality. Her high school friends will recall that Sasha always had health problems. Those problems stuck with her, and, in fact, were in a way responsible for her death. Complications from Sasha's disease brought her untimely end.

A memory disturbs me because of my inaction. Probably a year ago, Sasha wrote to me the simple statement, "You don't know how much your friendship means to me." I wrote back to her that our friendship was important to me, too, and that we needed to get together the next time she was in the area. We had said that more than once over the years, but that reunion never happened. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw Sasha.

So be wary of life's easily committed sins of omission. And if you remember Sasha, you might say a prayer for her wonderful, special soul.

Two Questions: "Was the girl from JD grounded from cellphone use?" and "Is there climate change in hell?"

Last Tuesday, Linda and I went to the SU/Cornell lax tilt. How's that for journalistic brevity? If you follow lacrosse, you will know it was a debacle, with Cornell triumphing 11 to 6. When the game is bad, one needs occasionally to people watch. In the row in front of us sat a high school girl with her dad. She was from JD: it said so on her jacket, and when they sat down, I figured she would soon get out her phone and start texting. Miraculously, it didn't happen. She watched the entire game with her father. They talked to each other. They ate nachos. Not once did either rely on anything electronic for communication. Being an outspoken opponent of texting disease, I was so happy. I wanted to say to them, "You two are great! You still talk to each other and have fun." I didn't for fear they would think I was a little weird. . .Two days pass and I am talking to Todd Sorensen, an FMHS history teacher, about something technological, and I mention this nice encounter to him. He says, "She was probably grounded from her phone." The idealist in me shouted, "No," but the cynic wondered if Todd could be right.

We were coming home from Schenectady yesterday, and, in Madison County, hit a terrible sleet storm. It was awful, truly hellacious, which made me ponder the ecological question , "Is there climate change in hell?" I have no answer, but my favorite poet Robert Frost, hinted around the possibility in his wonderful verse "Fire and Ice."

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

--Robert Frost

Love the way the man could get you thinking with so few syllables.

In case you missed this in the newspapers. . .

I wrote this to celebrate community cooperation, and it was in the POST STANDARD, COURIER, and OD.

A project begun five years ago received a tremendous financial impetus in late November of 2010. It was then that the Village of Chittenango and the Village Trail Committee, which is a municipal entity, received news that a grant had been reserved by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation for the trail committee’s use. The grant has created great excitement in Chittenango and has highlighted the good things that happen when citizens, civic committees, and service clubs work together.

The work of the Chittenango Neighborhood Trail Committee had already begun when, in late 2007, the Chittenango Lions Club was approached with a special proposition involving a piece of property along Dyke Road. It so happend that the trail committee would eventually need access to Valley Acres to realize its plan to connect the village neighborhoods with downtown. And what has occurred in the years since then, seems to be a combination of “kismet” and “serendipity,” fate and good fortune.

This good fortune began when Chris Kendall, Canastota Lion and attorney, approached the Chittenango Lions Club with a proposal. The finger of land that runs north and south from Sun Chevy’s car lot to Valley Acres was owned by the Shapiro family, who Kendall represented. The family wanted to donate the land, bordered on the west by Dyke Road, and the east by Chittenango Creek to the Village of Chittenango. But, the Shapiro Trust wanted a civic organization such as the Lions to take stewardship of the land to guarantee it would be used for the public good. After lengthy consideration, the Lions decided to take on the responsibility and began discussing uses for the rather inhospitable piece of property. On July 22, 2008, a Lions Club committee led by Lions Jim English and Steve Kinne, including Lions Dick Sullivan, Nelson Smith, Pete Owens and Mike Lynch approached the village board and presented the Lions plan of stewardship of the Shapiro land. Mayor Ronny Goeler and the board voted their support of the development of the property at that meeting.

Two years passed and the Neighborhood Trail System grew. At a meeting in the spring of 2010, the Lions and representatives of the Trail Commitee discussed joint usage of the land. Donna Lynch and Bill Nickal of the Trail committee explained that in October of 2010, the first phase of the trail system from Kirschenheiter Park to the trailhead in the village, would be officially dedicated. The next step was to wind the trail to Valley Acres, and the best way to go was through Shapiro tract. The Lions Club agreed that it was a fine idea. In fact, it almost seemed fated.

At the Chittenango Lions first meeting of the 2010-2011 Lions Club year, Lion Kinne announced that the village in cooperation with the Lions had officially “acquired” the Shapiro property. The village trail committee and the Lions Club would work together to see that it was used as “part of the village’s Master Plan for parks, green spaces, and connection of neighborhoods via a system of trails.” The property would be developed as a botanical park and arboretum, focusing on education and providing opportunites for recreation. Very importantly, Lion Kinne’s announcement included the fact that, “Within this park, a southern extension of the Neighborhood Creek Walk Trail will be built to connect Valley Acres to downtown.”

To add to the excitement was the announcement that the Lions and Trail Committee would be partnering with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s School of Landscape Architecture in creating possible designs for the Dyke Road area. The landscape architecture faculty had chosen the Chittenango project because one of the major foci of the school’s curriculum is community design. Morrisville College’s Landscaping program also wanted to be involved in the project.

Meetings were held with the ESF students during the fall of 2010 at the Sullivan Free Library and the American Legion Hall. The meetings were open and citizen input was requested by the students and the civic groups involved. Sixty people attended the public forum, a real show of community support.

Most recently has come the great news that the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation had presented a $200,000 matching funds grant to the project titled: “Dyke Road Spur of the Chittenango Creek Walk.” Thanks to the grant writing ability of Elizabeth Bough Martin of the Village Trail Committee, funds will be available to develop this virtually unused piece of property.

It should be mentioned that the trail system has had other benefactors as well. A parcel of land has been generously donated by Philip and Phyllis Buchanan. Also, Robert Hall and Richard Clark have offered land they own to the village, and Stephen Davie has

additionally promised a permanent easement for the trail system.

Is it a mixture of ”kismet” and “serendipity” or is it just proof of the old statement that “sometimes things just work out.” However, one may choose to look at it, the trail system and the Dyke Road Project are evidence of the wonderful things that can happen when citizens, civic organizations, and government work together.

A Perfectly Poopy First Day of the New Year! Or. . .Why the Pooper Scooper is One of Man's Greatest Inventions!

Man, the first day of 2011 was really terrific. Few things will make me look to the future with a greater sense of promise than a first day of the year that starts with sun and with that January thaw feel in the air. The day's sweetness called me outside to vacuum the seats and floor of my car, picking up the dirt, dog hair, and dropped bits of kibble that nearly had made the carpet invisible. I was still a bit high from the Orange victory in the Pinstripe Bowl. I mean I felt bad for the saluting kid, but, what are you gonna do? Somebody's got to win, and the Orange aren't giving it back. I used that gridiron high to propel myself around the garage as I swept and shoveled the dirt and bits of paper, leaves and dog hair that had settled on the floor. I admit that the afternoon did bring rain, but we were off to the Dome to watch Boeheim's boys kick Irish butt, a truly beautiful thing to see! Then we went home to a terrific dinner and a relaxing evening.

Still, I have yet to mention another important activity that January 1, 2011, afforded for me and why I included "Perfectly Poopy" in my title. Well, anyone who owns a 95 pound Labrador Retriever knows what awaits them in their yard when the snow melts. A virtual minefield of doggy doo! An elephant graveyard of excrement! So much, in fact, that it is difficult to believe that it all came out of one animal. If, perish the thought, the snow cover lasts from December to late March, then the panorama of poop that spreads out before you and your pooper scooper is mind boggling. That's why a thaw at the beginning of January is so necessary. The first of the year afforded me a chance to remove a month and a half or so worth of poop. It took more than a half hour to pick up, and filled the bottom of a garbage can about 14 or 15 inches deep. It weighed. . .I don't want to guess how much it weighed. But the effort was so worth it because when March rolls around I'll have that much less (fill in the parentheses with your favorite term) to deal with.

Writer's Block, A Bit of Old Mexico in Chittenango, and A Visit to Zecheriah's House

I am writer's blocked. Never, since I took to writing almost daily, have I ever been so unable to come up with an idea. Nor do I have my usual desire to write. What concerns me most is that I have to get rolling on a script for SUMMERPLAY 2011 in this muddled creative state. My block is probably due to the fact that I have written three plays and directed three in the last 11 months or so... So, I'm going to take a brain rest until mid-January and not even try to write. I'll do some blogging, but I guess I'll let SUMMERPLAY, whatever it will be, simmer, wherever it is.

Now to other things.

Waldman's was in the building forever, but restaurants like Java Joe's and the Old Hotel Cafe, though really good, struggled to survive in that spot on Genesee Street across from the Episcopal Church, over the past few years. Ahora entra (now enters) La Cocina, a really terrific little Mexican restaurant that I hope will make it in 'nango because it's so good and so different from anything else we 'nangoites have. Linda and I had two of the specials for lunch on Friday, total price $9.98 + tax. For that very reasonable cost we were able to share the #4 which includes a burrito and two tacos and the #10 which consists of two beef enchiladas and a chile relleno, plus a bag of their homemade taco chips and a container of homemade salsa. We loved every item. I really liked the chile relleno, which I had never tried. It's a moderately hot pepper (a little kick) sliced open with a cheese and tomato sauce inside. I spoke with one of the owners, who told me that they hope to be able to acquire a beer and wine license soon. So. . .va a La Cocina. (Go to The Kitchen Restaurant). They open at 11:0 a.m. and don't close until 9:00 every night except Friday and Saturday when they're open until 10:00.

After a few weeks of fun and work, the CrossRoads Community Church Musical, SPOKEN, was presented yesterday and today in the high school auditorium. With music and story by Steve and Sue Case, the one hour play told the story of Zecheriah and Elizabeth and the miraculous birth of their son John. I was really knocked out by the production that we put together together. (Both "togethers" intended.) The music was beautiful, the story delightful, the performances and music inspiring. Many kudos to Steve, Sue, Mark Campitello, John Spiridigliozzi, Jodee Osborne, the entire ensemble, orchestra, and technical staff. I'm glad I was part of this special show.

I've had a lot of requests over the last few weeks to get myself back to blogging. I'll try but with no guarantees. I'm not sure if you can still go to my blog through the ONEIDA DISPATCH website. (I canceled my subscription, you see.) I'll check, but remember that you can always get to THE BLUE MOON GRILLE at wwwmotleyplayer.blogspot.com/ (The lack of a (.) after the w's is intentional.)

It Tolls for Thee

Headlines at this moment on Syracuse.com include: "Hundreds gather at funeral for Jenni-Lynn Watson" and "Syracuse toddler's death blamed on gang revenge." I can remember few if any times that reading headlines like these was so difficult for me. The tragedies our small Chittenango community has recently experienced make those of which I have only a peripheral attachment, I know Jenni-Lynn's cousin Mark, and those to which I have no actual attachment at all, the death of 20 month-old Rashad Walker, Jr., even more horrible than they would be under normal circumstance. The violent death of anyone is awful; the violent death of children, and in this group I include both Jenni-Lynn and Rashad, is despicable. I hurt deep down inside for them and all. I'm not going to try to explain this "species pain" I feel. I will leave it to John Donne who said it with nearly impossible eloquence when he wrote,

No man is an island, entire of itself;

every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,

as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were:

any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind,

and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls;

it tolls for thee.

These words come from Donne's "Meditation XVII," an essay, although the lines above are often printed as a poem. Reading the whole essay might take 5 minutes. It's a worthwhile read with the only logical conclusion.