Restaurant employees are only different - they`re simply not your typical working Janes and Joes.
Maybe its the exemption they make by running a deal thats a small out of the mainstream. Maybe its because so many have other jobs, or are only doing this until they make a bigger goal.
Musicians, artists, teachers, kids in law school. They hold the station alive.
Today`s situation is approximately two part-timers at Johnny D`s who do keep things interesting.
Rick and The Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup . . . since 1893, the top value in hockey. (Photo from http://todaysfacilitymanager.com)
Four weeks ago I posted a tale about our Wednesday/Thursday doorman, Rick Sabbag (real profession, art landscaping; he works for himself). I told you about his over-the-top reaction when after thirty-nine days the Boston Bruins finally won another Stanley Cup.
Checking IDs at the threshold the dark of the last game, Rick`s eyes were glued to big screen TVs. People had to support and look if a crucial play was in progress.
It had been a long waiting for Rick. He had cheered the Boston Bruinsas a new boy, and so for thirty-nine long years later suffered the Stanley Cup drought. Hed gotten married, had three boys (Nick, Tim, and Brandon), and still no Stanley Cup.
When the Bruins finally won Rick went a little nuts. He was bellowing at the top of his lungs, arms raised high, spinning round in circles to high-five complete strangers.
It turns out that was only the source of Rick`s celebration.
Two weeks afterwards in his home township of Lincoln MA, there was a Fourth of July parade, and Turn and his buddies cobbled together a float. They united the procession.
They had made a Boston Bruins float and Rick rode through the streets balanced precariously on the movement of the flatbed, clapping his two heavy paws together, yelling, Go Bruins! . . . Go Bruins! . . . Go Bruins! Until he was hoarse.
The crew that lined the parade cheered him wildly which prompted Rick to call even louder, as if he needed encouragement.
Then somehow - maybe it was because Boston Bruins legendary player Cam Neely also lives in Lincoln, or because of about of Ricks other connections that I wont mention here - but somehow, Rick managed to get his photo taken with the coveted Stanley Cup.
(For a hockey fan, this is like touching The Holy Grail.)
Heres Rick (on the left) with Cam Neely . . . and the mythic trophy.
Congratulations to the Boston Bruins . . . and way to celebrate, Rick.
Henry Parker, renaissance man
Ive ever thinking that Henry Parker (our part-time house photographer) is an interesting guy. He makes a livelihood in custom woodwork, but on the english he films and produces documentaries for the local cable access network. (SCATV just won a national honor for Overall Excellence.)
Henry travels more than anyone I know, both for photography and pleasure. Having travelled through most of the United States, hes also been to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, to India and the far east, to Senegal, Cambria, Icenya and the Ivory Coast.
Photo by Henry Parker
When Henry travels to Africa he doesn`t take a way in ordinary hotels. He stays at the homes of local folks, and sometimes he visits the outlying areas. On his final trip, he stayed with tribes people still keep in mud-and-grass huts - with no running water, no indoor plumbing, no electricity.
But for 20 years, Henrys real background has been in the martial arts.
This made for an interesting scene one day, in the commons across from Johnny Ds.
Every class in that park, the Somerville Arts Council puts on Art Beat, a two-day festival filled with artisan booths.
Last summer a booth had been set up by a local martial arts academy. They were offering free instruction, trying to lure people to unite their school.
A dark belt from that train was standing in face of the great crowd, demonstrating a form of self-defense techniques.
For those of you who dont experience a lot near the martial arts, I give to excuse one common misconception. When most people see the term black belt - they dont recognize the whole story. Certainly its a set of merit, to be taken seriously, but having a dark belt is a little like having a college degree. Which school you have it from is significant.
A point from Harvard or MIT indicates a different point of competence than one from, say, Littleville Junior College.
Im sure this black belt was skilled in his own right, but no way was he in Henrys league.
Henry is a world-class fighter. He studied with Grandmaster Suk Chung, a two-time world champion in Tae Kwon Do. Henry himself has so many trophies he can barely close his closet door without one of them falling out.
(I finally persuaded Henry to draw out the first layer from his wardrobe and fill this photo.)
Thats it? I asked Henry one day in jest, Thats all the trophies you have?
No, he replied, apparently unaware I was busting his balls, Theres more can the cast and the chairs.
And I support the plaques under the couch.
Anyway, Henry was in the gang watching as the black belt went through his demonstration. Maybe something around the guy rubbed Henry the incorrect way. Maybe this black belt was just too self-assured, a little cocky.
Then the guy asked for a volunteer from the audience. He cherished to show how efficient his techniques were.
Henry stepped forward.
Go ahead, the black belt told him, dressed in his crisp white uniform as the two stood across from each other, "Go ahead. Try to hit me.
Henry was in street clothes; the teacher had no idea who he was.
POP!
Henry bounced a quick punch off the karate master`s forehead, pulling the punch expertly so the guy knew hed been hit, but wasnt harmed.
The guy was a little stunned as the crowd oowed and awwwed, but he recovered.
Ok, he told Henry. OK. Not bad . . . not bad.
He collected himself once more into a fighting stance.
OK, he told Henry, Now try that again.
Pop! Pop! "Pop!"
Henry Parker, out of his "civilian" clothes.
Henry tapped him with 3 more karate strikes.
Now the guy was completely flustered and the crew had become embarrassingly silent.
Then somehow he managed to change back to demonstrating the techniques on his own. Without assistance from the audience.
Later he pulled Henry aside. You show promise, the black belt said, You should join our school.
Naw, Henry told him, I guess Ill just keep doing what Im doing.
He never told the guy the whole story.
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