SUMMER GIRL

By Peter Vuono

Dedicated to the memory of my friend and student

Beverly Ann duCille Lovejoy 1/13/72- 2/23/21

     I just finished the book "F---Dying" by American Gladiator Dan Clark. I love books by tough guys with big hearts and Dan is definitely one of them. In one of the final chapters,Dan asks that each morning we wake up and think of any 3 positive things. So on July 1st I awakened and after thanking God for my health and still another day I thought back to July 1st 1988. I was teaching summer school English and really enjoyed the 15 years that I did it.

    My class in Y306 was filling and they kept sending kids up so that I worried about space.So, on this day a soft spoken girl came up who registered a little late. I asked if Mrs. Kerr sent her up and she smiled and said, "Yes". It wasn't just a smile, though. It radiated with kindness which filled the room not unlike the summer sun that shined through the window. I just knew that Bev was going to be a great student.

    She "ACED" every test, did every homework assignment and was hardly ever out. She was someone looked up to by the other kids.She wrote to me after the summer and I later found that after HS graduation and through no fault of anyone's, Bev would not receive any financial support to speak of from her folks. She worked hard at different jobs and specialized at taking care of kids(mine included), who all loved her. She even took on a position of a sitter/nanny at Otis Air Force Base for a family who she knew.

    It was at about this time the  teacher/ student roles completely switched. You see Bev taught me through her struggles a type of grit, determination and courage that I never had to attain. She was inspiring in her refusal to live on the streets and keep her head above water.

   I never gave any of my classes Walt Whitman but her efforts and inspiration mirrored Whitman's quote, "He most honors my style who learns under it to destroy the teacher". It was she who was teaching ME now.

   Serendipity took her to Florida where she met and married a kind hearted, hard working guy, Mike Lovejoy. Here again she took on a full time job and raised FIVE wonderful kids with Mike. Unfortunately, however, she took a demon with her to the Sunshine State which would fester.

   Here again Bev fought hard to keep from drowning but when alcoholism attacks a person physically who is already struggling to  be the best mom and wife she can be, it sometimes wins. Bev succumbed to a stroke in Feb. of 21. She came out of her coma long enough to say "Goodbye", but she, like so many before her, will not be forgotten.

   In Tich Nhat Hanh's book, the "Art of Living" he talks of a phenomena called "continuation". If one puts forth good memories for others to savor in life, he or she may pass but their memory will continue and never really pass away That is how I like to think of Bev and I will continue to do so every July1st from now to the end of days .

"GOD WILL NOT ASK US HOW ELEQUENTLY WE SPOKE BUT HOW WELL WE LIVED"- Venerable Matt Talbot- Patron to alcoholics.

ADDENDUM- I've also lost two other wonderful summer school souls: Oscar Mercado- football player, gentleman, master craftsman and gentle giant AND Audra Williams-  a soft spoken, kind, polite "A" student who was destined to be a great mom and person. May they remain securely in God's grace and Love

 HE'S NOT GONNA  ASK YA,"HOW MUCH YA BENCH?"

By Peter Vuono

     My son and I love martial arts but I have to say that my 1st love is an obscure sport called powerlifting. Powerlifting got me stronger, raised my self esteem and even got me a job. When my 1st two employers-Mr. Paul Phinney and Mr. Henry LaBranche- found out that I was a powerlifter, they thought I'd be a good example to the kids and hired me on the spot in 1976. It was there in Pelham that I would meet my wife, Diane.

    So, it did a lot for me but it stops there. You see any trophy, any award and any record that I made in the grand scheme of things is totally meaningless. Why? It's because I was placed here to be of service to my family, my friends and any stranger.

    About 35 years ago I attended a sermon in Easton, Ma. by Father Lucio Filipino. Father Lucio mentioned that sins of the flesh were merely human weaknesses and that at the judgement there would be a much more important question asked. Father Lucio said that we will be asked, "Who did you serve?" I never forgot it but it took too long to sink in.

   Two years later, I was in a check-out line at Shaw's. I was in the back of the line and an old acquaintance of mine, (a magician named Ronnie), was up front. Ronnie didn't see me but I saw what was happening. He only bought 4 items and his credit card maxed. He walked out quietly and dejectedly without his groceries.

   To this day, I don't know why I didn't buy them for him. I can't remember if I didn't have enough cash for the both of us, or if I didn't want to embarrass him or even if I didn't care enough, but I never forgot.

Now, I make a point to help anyone that needs it. It could be;

a senior citizen with too heavy a load to put in the car,

or a homeless guy who always asks me for a dollar(and gets it) at the entrance to Walmart,

or a person who simply needs to be listened to,

or a student who needs to get constantly complimented,

or a Dunkin Donuts girl who deserves a 50% tip because she is sometimes disrespected by customers,

or a cashier who needs a polite and hardy greeting to make her feel important,

or to hold a door at a store or business for someone,

or to open a door for someone,

and yes, to pay for groceries for someone who misjudged their funds!

Father Lucio was right; it is these things that count. The creator doesn't care about money, status, fame, touch downs, college degrees, cars, houses, jewelry,  how strong I am, how much I can deadlift or, how much can I bench!!

I now try to build up a treasure trove of good works as it is good for me and for mankind. I don't know what happened to Ronnie, but his presence taught me a lesson and I'm forever grateful to him and to Father Lucio. It's not how much I benched; it's "Who did I serve?".