"Men at some times, are masters of their fates" (Julius Caesar)

.....If police are being shot in Ferguson, the solution might be tried by giving Ferguson's police jobs elsewhere and leaving the protesters and cop killers without a police force.  I wonder what it would be like in that town without police?? I think it would be fun to see what happens. I wonder if the crime rate would go up??  Or down?? It might be worth a try.  OK. Bad idea.

.....A year or so ago, when the copyrighted musical that I wrote was violated, I sent four or five emails to Gigi Minsky (who was on the Board of Directors), seeking an answer as to why this "theft" was going on. Gigi was my friend for many years but I received no responses from her. I heard from Bob Fox yesterday, and received the following email from Bob, a former athlete and student of mine. 

.....Norman, always a pleasure talking with you. Gigi is the sister of Yvette. I introduced Yvette to her husband, Wes, over 40 years ago. Wes has been one of my closest friends because he's like you and me loving the active life playing ball, traveling and teaching. He's an accomplished magician, volleyball and basketball referee, and volunteers at the Moat in Sarasota giving nature tours. He was a science teacher in New Jersey for 35 years. I only know Gigi through my long friendship with Wes and Yvette. I see Gigi when Wes and Yvette come to Delray and Gigi joins us for dinner.I haven't spoken to Gigi about you or your situation with the play but I suspect she just didn't want to get involved. In my life as an educator and on various boards I was different. My philosophy was to always try and help and sometimes it did and sometimes I ruffled feathers. But I notice that in today's world more and more people seem to opt for passive responses when confronted with requests to get involved in anything they see that holds no benefit for them. I believe you and I are 'old school:' we see something that's wrong and we speak up and that isn't always wise in this world but maybe, just maybe, why our society might have been healthier years ago when teachers and citizens did go out of their way to help others, correct children when they were inappropriate, and work to make their communities a safer and more secure environment. You are a special guy, a fighter, a man with standards of personal excellence, and many of us have drawn strength from your example. Thanks and remember, I told you many of my classmates at our 50th reunion five years ago, upon hearing of my contact with you, went out of their way to tell me to say hello to you because you are remembered and appreciated for your teaching, coaching and leadership example. Bob

.....Like many other persons, (like Bob has claimed about me) I would like to leave a legacy so my great great grandchildren would know about me, and so I've had several different "careers" that I really really wanted.  I wanted to be a Naval Aerial Gunner in WWII--and I did that. I wanted to get a Ph.D.,--and I did that. I wanted to teach English Literature and Linguistics--and I did that for 30 years. I wanted to run a marathon--and I did that. I wanted to get on the stage and perform--and I did that.  I wanted to be a soccer coach--and I did that.  I wanted to write an autobiography--and I did that.  And I wanted to take off for a year and travel around the world--and I did that. And if this is the legacy I leave, so be it.  Who else has done it?

 

.....As you may know, today (3/15/2015) is the Ides of March, the day, in 44BC that Julius Caesar, the dictator of Rome, was assassinated primarily by dudes named Cassius and Brutus. Although many other Senators also got in a stab, but Casca was first to his discredit. Altogether, it is said that he was stabbed 23 times, which was somewhat more than was needed.  Marc Anthony retrieved his body.  Caesar need not complain about this event--he was warned by a "seer" not to go to the Roman Capital that day.  Perhaps we all ought to heed this advice.