JustASC

Here’s the best part of writing a column and keeping a blog: hearing from old friends. I got the following from Jeff, a childhood friend from the old bungalow colony, which I wrote about this month and below:

I too have fond memories of Lake Champlain. Especially this week (40 years ago) when I think of that old B/W TV set with the Hanger and tin foil that my father set up on a bridge table in front of our bungalows so that everyone from the the colony could gather around to watch Neil Armstrong take that historic step.

One of my fondest memories was when you came by that summer while some of us were outside playing chess. You watched and watched and when I asked you if you wanted to play you told me quietly you didn’t know how. I asked you if you wanted to learn and you said sure just don’t let anyone know I was teaching you. I didn’t have to keep it secret long because you picked up on the game extremely fast. As you probably recall we played all summer. When the day came for you to leave to go back home you asked me for one last game. We played our longest game ever and then finally you made a great move and beat me for the first time. As you pulled away and we were all waving goodbye to you, your mom and dad, your brothers and your dog Madel, my father asked me who won the last big chess game, I told him with a big smile that Andy won it. He turned to me and said then why the big smile and I said “because Andy won it”. He smiled back and looked at me and said from one teacher to another it’s a good feeling isn’t it?

Forty years is a long time but memories of moon landings and chess games with friends last forever.