June 1, 2018Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor spread cheer throughout the year and tell stories of heroes from all walks of life. Today’s blog is a reprint of a piece I wrote in March 2017. It’s dedicated to my Mom… she is now 94 years old and truly heroic! I hope you enjoy…
This one is dedicated to my Mom: Gerry. It's also for my friends in Alpena, in Nebraska, and those who are big fans of MSU, as well. All my life, I have marveled at how my Mom has always been able to encounter strangers and engage with them in wonderful conversations! Many of Mom's nurse co-workers and friends often remarked how Mom was loved by her patients because of her gift for conversation. The patients were total strangers, and yet Mom found a knack for finding a common thread that brought their worlds closer together. Whether the conversation meandered from the neighborhood they both knew, the workplace they may have shared, the common friends they might have known, or a distant relative they might have had in common... Mom knew that finding a common denominator always proved: It's a small world. So, I went to a Fish Fry at the local VFW (Post 671, Dewitt, Michigan) earlier this evening. A typical Friday during Lent, the hall was crowded, but there were two empty tables. I sat down at a table that had six chairs left. And a few minutes later, a couple elderly gents wandered my way and, simultaneous to me motioning them to take a seat at my table, one of them asked if they might sit down. Of course! Larry and Tom began to tell me that they go to lots of Fish Fry's in the area. Saint Jude's in Dewitt is pretty good, they said. Hubbardston is the best, but get there early because it's packed like sardines, according to Tom. Larry was the elder of the two, in his mid to late 70's. Tom was in his early sixties. Both have been retired for about ten years. Tom retired from GM. Larry started to tell me about where he had worked, but the waitress interrupted when she came to take their tickets. The two of them went to get their drinks and dinner rolls. Larry moved a little slowly and mentioned his arthritis was acting up. But he got his drink and returned to the table. Larry asked me if I was a member at this post. I said yes; I had joined here after I retired in 2006. Larry said that neither of them were military, although Larry had been involved with ROTC at some point in the early 60's. He asked me about what I'd done since retiring. I explained that I published an educational magazine for a couple years, then when the economy took a downturn I worked in retail for a while, but eventually returned to work in aviation at the airport, and now I am back in school full-time. I had thought about going to the MSU program, but they have a fifth year in their education program, so I'll be at Ferris State here in Lansing. "Wow!", Larry said. He asked what I was studying, and I told him Elementary Education. "Good. Kids need role models," he said. And he added that his daughter is in a master’s program at MSU, and she'd be joining them at the fish fry soon. The fish was pretty good. It was fried pollock. Tom remarked that Hubbardston has baked cod, but they charge a little bit more. Then Tom asked me where I had been stationed while in the military. I went through the main list: Indiana, Germany, Texas, Battle Creek, Camp Grayling, and Alpena. Larry's eyes opened up wide and he grew a big smile: "You lived in Alpena! Oh, I know some people from there!" And then, as if all the arthritis had left him completely, with a broad smile, animated gestures, and excited tone, Larry began to recall stories from fifty-some years ago like it was yesterday. "Tom," he began, "do you know the name Smolinski?" "YES! Blondie Smolinski was the county clerk up in Alpena for as long as I lived there, " I said. "Well that's a different Smolinski. But have you ever heard of Mark Smolinski?" I shook my head, no. But I know that Smolinski name for sure. "How about Bob Devaney?" "Boy, I know that name too." I said. But I can't tell you why I know it! Larry said, "He was a high school football coach in Alpena way long ago. From there, he went on to be an assistant coach at MSU. He eventually worked for Duffy Daugherty! Then he took a job at Wyoming. Smolinski - from Alpena, he was my buddy - played for him at Wyoming, and then Smolinski went on to play in the NFL for Baltimore Colts in the early 60's and the New York Jets during the late 60's. He won the championship while playing with both teams!" I told him I was going to have to look that up when I got home. (I looked it up! It's true!) But there was more. Devaney didn't stay at Wyoming. Larry said that in the early 60's, Devaney was hired by Nebraska to coach their struggling team. Devaney rebuilt that team and revamped the program. He restored success at Nebraska. They had to add seats to the stadium because of the success! He ended up taking them to a National Championship. And eventually when Devaney left, he handed the program over to one of his assistants: Tom Osborne. (I researched this one when I got home, too. Devaney's record during his 11 seasons at Nebraska was 101 - 20 - 2. He led them to eight Big 8 Championships and two National Titles in 1970 and 1971.) Larry was beaming, telling those stories. Devaney and Smolinski were from Alpena. I had lived there. Larry knew them, and he knew how to make the connection. Just like my Mom. It was the best fish fry I've ever been to. TGIF! Have a great weekend!
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AuthorTom Davis is the owner of Mistletoe Enterprises LLC. He also publishes and distributes the Victory & Valor Flyer, it tells the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Archives
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