JACK: A LESSON IN KINDNESS

By Peter Vuono

  The last course that I had to take  for my Master's Degree in 1983 was Music Theory offered by Dr. Jacob Liberles  at Bridgewater State College. I liked Dr. Liberles but he certainly knew how to make us work. We had to study classical music for hours. At the final, we'd listen to a piece and give the name of the author, title of the piece and WHERE EXACTLY in the piece we were listening. For example; Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" has, of course, 4 sections which are segmented into three parts per season. We had to name the title, author and which segment we were listening to.

  As if that weren't enough, Dr. Liberles had us perform a song on the piano EACH WEEK! He never asked us if we could read music or had a piano. We just had to do it! I was a bit dyslexic with reading music. I could do it, but I was slow. Ergo, I learned every song by ear. Even Dr. Liberles was surprised that I learned this way. In my final, however, I forgot the notes at about 85% finished. I was dejected but Dr. Liberles allowed me to retake the piano exam. This is where Jack comes in.

  Jack was a very husky, red headed baseball player from my hometown in Quincy. He probably could have played football but he was super easy going and friendly. During my re-take, Jack sat quietly awaiting HIS turn on the piano. I nailed it! While walking away, Jack displayed the "OK" gesture and whispered,"That was perfect!" I wasn't used to getting accolades from anyone at home and his comments have joyfully stuck with me my whole life. I never got to thank him. The philosopher Lao Tzu once said that,"Music in the soul is heard by the universe". How ironic it was that after making music, a friend would implant it in MY soul.

   One day, I will be gone, Jack will be gone and everyone that he and I know will be gone. However the beauty of that moment is this; God is eternal as is HIS memory. Every kind word made by Jack, me and all of humanity is tabulated and will greatly pay forward in the enormous dividend of everlasting happiness.What a wonderful thing that is for Jack, for me for, you and all humanity.

"There are three ways in which we should treat others; the first is to be kind, the 2nd is to be kind and the 3rd is to be kind"- Mother Teresa

"SHE PUTS ME TO SHAME."

Story by Peter Vuono

Title by Otto Frank.

Dedicated to Kate M.,  Tammy C.

and Joe Steinfeld- heroes all!

   On page 186 line 11, in the popular book,"Diary of Anne Frank, Otto Frank says this about his daughter Anne who had written the diary while she and her family hid in an attic in her father's building in Amsterdam from the Nazis from 1942-1944. Anne and her family were captured and she died while being held captive in Bergen-Belson concentration camp at age 15 from typhus. I saw the play in 1974 for the 1st time and when I see the medals depicted with this story, I, through the lives of my family members, remember Otto's statement. Anne had an amazing faith in love and humanity in spite of the cruelty reaped upon her, her family and her people. Anne was a German born Jewish girl. In her diary, Anne says, "Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again".

   When I look at the medals, I realize that they represent 3 world records of mine. I sometimes feel a little proud but not for long. Why? First, "pride" is the worst of the 7 deadliest sins. Secondly, I did very little to earn them and if world record medals are to go to anyone at this address they should be given to my wife who has undergone 6 operations and to the little girl sharing the photos with the medals.

   Lucy was born on Flag Day in 2021. For 3 years and 10 months of her life she was made to do all hygienic chores in a crate and to put forth at least two litters of puppies for a puppy mill. Just as amazingly, the cruel keepers of the mill belong to a religious sect who are usually purported to be people of peace and forgiveness. I didn't see it with Lucy.

   On both of her hind legs are two black scars(one frontally and one laterally), from a crate that was too small for her and her puppies. Thanks to her intrepid rescuer Kate- a 21st century Harriet Tubman- and her step mom- Tammy she was delivered to us and is truly the answer to our prayers. Like Anne Frank she is filled with nothing but love  and hope. She too, has maintained a love and faith in 

humanity.

  So when I periodically pass by these world record medals, I now smile; pride is gone. They don't belong to me; they belong to Lucy who deserves them so much more than I. She puts me to shame.