The Once-in-a-While

Daily News: For Love

of Game

1  Looks like I'm going to Hawaii come November. First time ever. We're gonna hang in Kauai, where they have chickens.

2  Our old pal Sally has a place, so looks like I'm flying, never my choice even though it HAS to be better than driving the highways and byways of Sacramento, Sannozay, or, dare I say it, Sacred Lake Tahoe, which has some of the worst drivers on the planet. 

3  I wrote this on Sunday, which was a recovery day from a wonderful wedding on Friday. Got all that, or did your left ear lobe disengage?

4  Thuy Ann, the bride, was a member of the illustrious Class of '05, which must have been born under cosmic conditions. In fact, '04 and '05 put out some of the most brilliant, albeit competitive sorts the like of which I hadn't seen since the class of '98. In short, both classes teemed with genuine smiles and good nature, overall. I was the advisor to the Class of '05, and I'm proud to have worked in that capacity. 

5  I always hate mentioning these things because classes that weren't of those championship seasons often felt a tad left out, like, "We were good too..." 

6  Simmer down, willya? I have awesome stories I could share about every year I taught. I LOVED teaching at Yerba Buena High School, even though I taught lots of kids who thought the abbreviation "YB"  stood for "Why bother?"

7  Why bother? Well, because nearly every student I ever taught went on to some manner of success. Yes, Thuy Ann's class (as well as Dr. John and Lawyer Peter's classes) had a certain spark that you couldn't really measure, but all classes had spark, as well as a rich diversity, which is why I loved YB. Dr. John was originally John Le, a bright light and an incredible friend, and Peter Tran, reserved, subtle, and hilarious all at the same time. Good guys and great students from the Class of '04. Both are considered success stories in the history of YB.

8  And success is subjective. It's a high school concept that simply doesn't measure up to the number of people who followed their hobbies rather than their dreams after graduating. I know LOTS of amazing young artists who worked (and work) day jobs, but who also got involved in playing in bands, in singing, in developing their personal talents, and in keeping true to their own souls. To me, that defines success. Many passed that love to their children. I love watching kids who are seven years old outplaying me on a Gibson, for example. Nothing better. 

9  I'm not trying to give "participation" points here. I'm saying that it isn't all about competition; it's about enjoying what you can with what you have, and realizing you have your own successes.

10  If I sound preachy I apologize. It's just that I have witnessed many successes over the years. People find their own concept of success, and most seem good with it. 

11  I'm still working on trying to maintain a steady rhythm on guitar. Never mastered it, still trying. 

12  Meanwhile, kids seven are crushing it on guitar. 

13  I have succeeded at my own level, but it is nice to know that there is always someone better. It inspires me. 

14  Moving On, Part One: At one point somewhere around mid-2006, I sighed, because Thuy Ann's class was no longer around. It wasn't that they were THAT good, but there were LOTS of them, and my classroom, a portable right across from the Theatre, had become the living cliche of a "beehive of activity" the year prior. Every other day saw lively lunches, Spirit Week plots, heroic plans to give to the community, as well as continued efforts to enjoy their final year in high school, complete with lots of laughter and lots great times.

15  I also had a sixth-period prep in '05. I always had the window slud open so I could get some fresh air and enjoy the sounds of birds fluttering and chirping outside. 

And I also knew that within minutes of the bell ringing, Thuy Ann would pop her head through the window and smile this goofy smile that meant we were going to go looking for stuff for Spirit Week, or for a Spring class competition called FANTASTICS, or for Prom, or even for Graduation. 

16  We would often sail around, blasting music, and go hither and yon. GREAT rides, and GREAT talks. 

17  I loved it because we could do that. Well, technically we couldn't but I always felt it was all for the students. 

18  Sidebar: Six former administrators just fell off their bar stools. Hey, it's okay for you guys to drink and enjoy life a little too, you know. Just text and I can bring you a pillow, and a glass of ice water. Pour said drink over your head and relax, willya? Life's short. But I digress.

19  Nah. Bottom line: a lot of it had to do with what I called game. I told this to the 2006 crowd: those guys in '04 and in '05 had game. And they loved it. Their departures quieted that game down, but I knew all students had game, in one fashion or another. 

20  I always loved that term for some reason.

21  "Du got game!" 

22  At the risk of falling off the rails, may I digress yet again?

23  Off the rails.

24  Years ago (as I again go in a different direction!) I was grading a bunch of papers, and, while I no longer have the 

actual document with me, I came across a paper by a wannabe "gangsta" who wrote, "So I said to my boy, 'Hey, Du!...' " which stopped me for about two minutes. Only THEN did it materialize: "Hey, Du!" translated roughly to, "Hey Dude!"

25  Don't make it bad. 

26  Du got game. And on a grand scale, the wedding of Thuy-Ann and Dominic filled with all of that and then some. It was awesome seeing former students, then laughing and reminiscing. I know it sounds preposterous, but all of them looked as wonderful as ever. 

27  I feel that way about everybody I ever knew. I think a lot of people "got game." Thuy Ann's younger sisters, Nancy and Amy paid tribute to Thuy Ann as a "goody-goody" but also as an awesome role model. Game. A young lady who had always been in awe of Dominic stood before the newlyweds and paid tribute by performing a string version of I Can't Help Falling in Love With You. The entire place fell silent, and tears poured. Game. Dominic danced with his Mom, and it was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. Thuy-Ann ran after her Dad and brought him out to the dance floor, and they danced, and her eyes welled up with love for the man who taught her everything. The inspiration became palpable to all who witnessed it. 

28  And there was so much more, but I've been busy, and it was all I could do to get this piece out there. So I'll shorten it for all concerned. 

29   Thuy-Ann and Dominic, congratulations, and to all who contributed to the wedding, thank you for bringing out the spirit, the love, and the game. Your priest (forgive me, I didn't get his name) delivered a sermon about your love for each other that sounded almost like the greatest love in the history of the world.

30  From what I saw, it darned well might have been. And the two of you have formed a new family. 

31  The world will be a better place because of it. 

32  Congrats, congrats, and congrats. Great game.

33  It's just that I gottago.

34  I don't wanna go.

35  But I just gotta. 

36  Class act. Thank you.

37   To the rest of you reading this, thank you for traveling along. 

38  We'll see you all soon.

39  Have a GREAT day.

40  Live life.

41  Love life.

42  Peace.

~H~

fin.