RichardHowe.com – Voices from Lowell & Beyond

Seen & Heard: Vol. 36

A weekly report on things I’ve read, heard and seen since last Wednesday. 

Exhibit: The Great Elephant Migration. This is a temporary public art display on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall from Dartmouth to Fairfield Streets in Boston. It depicts 100 life sized elephants sculpted in India from plant materials. The exhibit is free but will only be there until this Saturday, September 12. Each sculpture is based on a living elephant so you have big bulls and matriarchs and smaller adolescents and babies. Here’s how the exhibit website explains its purpose: “The herd is here to share their story of coexistence; that there is room for all of us on this planet. We hope this exhibition reminds us of the awe we feel when in the company of wild, free animals and inspires us to better share our world with them.” I visited the display last Sunday morning and especially enjoyed being among a very diverse crowd of people wandering amongst the elephants, taking selfies, gazing at the individual sculptures and how they interacted with each other as part of the herd. 

Obituary: “Dolly Parton, Superstar Whose Songs Spoke to Millions, Dies at 80.” By Bill Friskics-Warren, New York Times, August 25, 2026. For as long as I can remember, anytime I heard Dolly Parton sing, watched her on TV or in a movie, or read about her in a newspaper or magazine, I got a good feeling. From the outpouring of positive comments from across the American spectrum, it seems that most people had the same response. I especially respected her philanthropy, particularly her “Imagination Library” which has provided something like 200 million books to children in an effort to develop the habit of reading. I also appreciated her help finding a Covid-19 vaccine including being one of the first to get jabbed while in a very public venue to set the example that all should receive it. People in public life, whether they be athletes, performers or politicians, would be advised to study how she interacted with others and how she handled potentially divisive issues in a way that always showed respect and compassion. 

Article: “Study Links Brain Disease to at Least 1 in 4 in NFL” by John Branch in New York Times, August 26, 2026. The phrase “at least” is doing a lot of work here. Between 2016 and 2021, 878 former NFL players died. Researchers examined the brains of 235 of them for evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (better known as CTE), a condition only detectable after death. Of the 235 brains examined, 215 of them had CTE. Perhaps a better headline would be that 94.5 percent of the brains of deceased former NFL players that were examined had CTE. But the way the Times frames it is accurate, even though many of the brains that were not examined might also have CTE. The great American novelist Upton Sinclair once wrote, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” It seems abundantly clear that playing tackle football causes this debilitating and life-shortening brain injury in many players, yet because of the great fortune involved in pro football, partly for the players but mostly going to the billionaire owners and the billionaire-owned media companies that televise the games, no one will seriously contemplate not playing football, which is a tragedy. One mystery is why do some former players get CTE while others, who had plenty of hits to the head, do not. Researchers theorize that there is some gene that protects people who have it from this condition. If that gene can ever be identified – which it hasn’t been yet – perhaps a screening test could permit only those not susceptible to CTE to continue to play. But that would likely cut into the profits so it’s unlikely to happen. 

Article: “A Fragile Treasure Endures a Sojourn” by Alex Marshall, New York Times, August 23, 2026. This article is about the Bayeux Tapestry, a 900 year old, 220 foot long stretch of fabric that depicts the Battle of Hastings in the year 1066. Throughout that time it has resided in the town of Bayeux, France, which is on the Normandy Peninsula, just 15 miles from Omaha Beach. Despite repeated requests from Britain to display it temporarily in that country, the French government and the tapestry’s custodians never relented – until this year. Now, from September 11, 2026, through July 11, 2027, the tapestry will be displayed in the British Museum in London. If you want to go, be advised that tickets are sold out through the end of this year. I had the good fortune to see the tapestry in Bayeux in 2004 on a family trip to Normandy. The exterior of the building that housed it was unremarkable, and the interior was quite dark to help preserve the fabric and its colors. The tapestry was stretched on the wall along three sides of the building behind protective glass. It’s like a graphic novel that ends with the Anglo-Saxon king of Britain dying from an arrow through the eye, and William the Conqueror, a Norman from Normandy, becoming the new king. The Battle of Hastings is one of a handful of iconic events that mark Britain’s national character so getting the thing to England is a big deal. Why did the French relent? Curators, who opposed the move because of the potential damage, give blame or credit to President Emmanuel Macron with a big boost from King Charles and the British government which has insured the piece for $1 billion. 

L’Etoile – A Star on Prince Street, Chapter 4

Two years ago, Louise Peloquin began sharing excerpts from L’Etoile, a French-language newspaper published in Lowell from 1886 to 1957. At my urging, she has agreed to compile some of her previous posts with added contextual information into a book manuscript to be called, L’Etoile: A Star on Prince Street. Starting this week, Louise will present draft chapters from the book in serial form here on the blog. Today, we have another installment.

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L’Etoile – A Star on Prince Street

Chapter 4 – The Daily Course

By Louise Peloquin

L’Etoile was a team venture, a collective adventure. Everyone played an indispensable role, always encouraged to activate their skills and to place them at the service of the public.

Some team members were out and about collecting local news, interviewing people around town, taking notes, writing reports and editorials. Others translated breaking world, national and regional news into French. Some met business owners and merchants interested in posting advertisements. And of course, the master artisans of the printing trade, the linotypists and machinists, enabled pursuing the paper’s objectives.

L’Etoile was a printing company whose business activities allowed publishing a French daily newspaper catering to Lowell’s Franco-American community. The Prince Street Star shone upon readers outside Lowell as well. All of this was never a single person’s accomplishment. On the contrary, the working body of L’Etoile members made everything possible.

The rolling, rumbling Mergenthaler linotype machines never took breaks. The days were full of numerous exchanges and activities involved in running a print shop and a newspaper:  placing orders for paper, discussing headlines, opinion pieces and layout, examining sales, distribution channels and so much more. Each day had its repeated tasks. The team was focused on meeting clients’ expectations. Community service, rather than the profit motive, propelled efforts.

Every day, the men and women of L’Etoile Printing and Publishing Company adapted to the demands at hand. Their versatility exploded stereotypes about who should be doing what. Linotypists turned into translators and reporters. Publicists served as newspaper couriers. Editors converted into canvassers, investigators and poets. Secretaries became accountants. No pair of hands, be they rough and calloused or dainty and white, shied away from handling blackened bits of lead to create catchy headlines and captivating accounts. Furthermore, everyone was an expert broom-pusher and tidy-upper. All hands were on deck.

Everyone knew a bit about the other’s specialty. Not being chained to a single function made for quite an exciting ambiance.

Other key players were the mechanical “colleagues.” Without the Mergenthalers, stationery, business cards, programs, order slips, let alone a foreign language newspaper, could not exist. The many components of L’Etoile’s equipment were really the queen bees of the Prince Street hive. Team members pampered them by feeding them strips of lead, rolls of paper, bottles of ink, drops of oil. In turn, they delivered the panels, leaves, folios and pages which enhanced local lives.

The royal machines’ residence took up the better part of the 24-26 Prince Street premises. Team members occupied narrow cramped corners whose austerity seemed to be conducive to reflection. It was out of the question to print stale news or provide defective office supplies.

While the human workers buzzed, the machine queen bees performed a symphony of clicks, clings, clangs, claps and occasional bings, bongs and boings. Each instrument played to the beat of its own metronome. The din was never found to be cacophonous. On the contrary, it was as reassuring as the whoosh of the nearby Merrimack and as energizing as the hustle and bustle outside – the early morning passers-by filing down narrow Little Canada streets rushing to work, the children gleefully pouring out of red brick buildings at the end of the school day, the fuzzy outlines of figures heading for tenements and shops at dusk. These sounds filled 24-26 Prince Street and serenaded L’Etoile’s team members’ lives.

Lowell Politics: September 6, 2026

Tuesday, September 1, 2026, was the State Primary Election. It was unique in recent Lowell political history because two of the three state representative seats in Lowell were “open” (meaning the incumbents were not running) while the third district had a hotly contested race that challenged the incumbent. Here are the results from the Democratic Primary:

Sixteenth Middlesex

This district includes Centralville and Pawtucketville in Lowell and five precincts in Chelmsford. The seat is currently held by Rodney Elliott who did not seek reelection. On Tuesday, Lorena Betts of Chelmsford defeated Lowell City Councilor Corey Robinson.

Based on unofficial results (as is all of the reporting that follows), Betts received 2831 votes (70%) district wide to Robinson’s 1194 (30%). Breaking down the district, in Chelmsford, which had 46% of the votes cast in the election, Betts received 1603 (87%) to Robinson’s 251 (14%). In Lowell, which had 54% of the votes cast, Betts received 1228 (57%) to Robinson’s 943 (43%).

There will be a Republican candidate for this office – Karla Miller – on the ballot in November, so the identity of the next state representative for this district won’t be determined until then.

Seventeenth Middlesex

This district includes Belvidere, South Lowell, Downtown, small slices of the Lower Highlands and the Acre plus one precinct in Tewksbury. It was represented by Vanna Howard who resigned earlier this year when she won a special election to fill the local State Senate seat that became vacant with the passing of Ed Kennedy.

John Drinkwater, a former Lowell City Councilor, won this race and, since there was no Republican candidate on the ballot Drinkwater will almost certainly be the next representative of this district.

On Tuesday, Drinkwater received 2177 votes (59%); Harini Sankaran Aiyer received 931(25%); and Anthony Leite received 555 (15%).

In Lowell, Drinkwater received 1958 votes (60%) to Aiyer’s 817 (25%) and Leite’s 467 (14%). In Tewksbury, Drinkwater received 219 to Aiyer’s 114 and Leite’s 88. The votes from Lowell accounted for 89% of the total while Tewksbury contributed 11% of the votes.

Eighteenth Middlesex

This district includes the Highlands and the Acre. It is represented by Tara Hong who won reelection by defeating current Lowell City Councilor Sokhary Chau.

On Tuesday, Hong received 2025 votes (67%) to Chau’s 985 (33%).

Since there is no Republican nominee for this office, Hong will almost certainly be elected to another term in November.

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Because politics never sleeps, several readers have asked what implications Tuesday’s results might have in next year’s Lowell City Election since two of the losing candidates in the state primary, Corey Robinson and Sokhary Chau, are incumbent city councilors who presumably will seek reelection in 2027. Doing that analysis requires a by precinct breakdown of the Lowell vote which I didn’t have time to obtain, so I’ll look at this question in next week’s newsletter.

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The Massachusetts race that received the most attention statewide and nationally was for the U.S. Senate where incumbent Ed Markey was challenged by incumbent member of Congress Seth Moulton. Markey won handily with 573,767 votes (65%) to Moulton’s 311,036 (35%).

In Lowell, of the 8273 votes cast in that race, Markey received 5844 (70%) to Moulton’s 2370 (30%).

Although Markey has only been a US Senator since 2013, he was first elected to Congress in 1976. He’s also 80 years old. So national pundits wondered if the wave of challengers knocking off longtime incumbents in other states would continue in Massachusetts. Although Markey is old and is the incumbent, this race didn’t fit that pattern. Elsewhere, the winning challenger was decidedly more progressive than the incumbent whereas in this race, Markey was perceived (correctly, for the most part) to be more liberal than Moulton. Also, Moulton is not a fresh new face since he has served in Congress since 2015. Moulton mostly emphasized Markey’s age which may have yielded better results for the right candidate although I think Markey is well-liked and has repeatedly shown he can win tough elections having defeated Steve Lynch to win the Senate seat in 2013 and Joe Kennedy III who challenged him in 2020.

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Sticking with Congress, in the race to succeed Moulton in the 6th Congressional District, Dan Koh won in the crowded Democratic Primary field. Finishing second in that race was State Representative Tram Nguyen, who represents part of Tewksbury in the Massachusetts House. By running for Congress, Nguyen did not run for the rep seat she first won in 2018.

As for Koh, he is likely familiar to Lowell voters since he finished a close second to Lori Trahan in the 2018 Democratic Primary to succeed Niki Tsongas. However, redistricting in 2022 moved his hometown of Andover from Trahan’s 3rd District to Moulton’s 6th.

Koh will face Republican Micah Jones of Essex in the general election.

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Although national pundits focused on the Markey vs. Moulton race as a possible “new, more progressive” challenger beating “old, more moderate” incumbent, the races that better presented that potentiality where in 1st Congressional District where longtime and high-ranking Congressman Richard Neal was challenged by Jeromie Whalen, or in the 8th Congressional District were Stephen Lynch was challenged by Patrick Roath. However, both incumbents were easily reelected with Neal defeating Whalen, 54% to 46%; and Lynch defeating Roath, 56% to 44%.

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Another contested office on the Democratic ballot was for District Attorney (Northern District). However, that race was not close with incumbent Marian Ryan of Belmont winning a landslide victory over challenger David Solet of Cambridge, a former Assistant DA in the office. I don’t have the district-wide numbers yet but in Lowell, Ryan received 5953 (79%) votes to Solet’s 1576 (21%).

Since there is no Republican candidate, Ryan’s victory in the primary likely assures her another term in office.

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The other offices on the Democratic Ballot in Lowell were uncontested. These were:

Governor – Maura Healey

Lt. Governor – Kim Driscoll

Attorney General – Andrea Campbell

Secretary of State – William Galvin

State Treasurer – Deborah Goldberg

State Auditor – Diana DiZoglio

Representative in Congress – Lori Trahan

Governor’s Councillor – Eunice Delice Zeigler

State Senator – Vanna Howard

Register of Probate – Tara DeCristofaro

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Republican Primary – I’ve combined all offices here, including those that are contested.

U.S. Senator – John Deaton of Bolton

Governor – Michael Minogue of Hamilton defeated Brian Shortsleeve of Barnstable

Lt. Governor – Shawn Oliver of New Bedford.

Attorney General – Michael Walsh of Lynnfield

Secretary of State – no candidate.

Treasurer – Elizabeth Dionne of Belmont

State Auditor – no candidate.

Representative in Congress – Garry Grossi of Acton.

Governor’s Councillor – no candidate.

State Senator – Sam Meas of Lowell.

State Rep (16th Middlesex) – Karla Miller of Lowell.

State Rep (17th Middlesex) – no candidate.

State Rep (18th Middlesex) – no candidate.

District Attorney – no candidate.

Register of Probate – no candidate.

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The Massachusetts state election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. While the above candidates in contested races will be hard at work campaigning until then, the focus of most of us will shift to the national scene since the entire country will participate in that day’s election with control of both houses of Congress up for grabs.

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As I mentioned at the start of this newsletter, it is rare to have contested races for all three state representative seats in Lowell in the same election. For a further stroll down (political) memory lane, here are the individuals who have held those seats over the past 50 years:

16th Middlesex District (was the 17th Middlesex before 2002)

1978 – Nickolas Lambros (D) defeated Leo J. Farley Jr.

1982 – John F. Cox (D) defeated incumbent Nickolas Lambros.

1994 – Thomas Golden was elected. Incumbent John F. Cox did not seek reelection.

In 2002 redistricting, this became the 16th Middlesex District.

2022 – Rodney Elliott defeated Zoe Dzineku in the Democratic Primary and XX in the General Election. Incumbent Tom Golden was appointed Lowell City Manager on March 30, 2022, and resigned from the state legislature.

17th Middlesex District (was the 18th Middlesex before 2002)

1978 – Edward A. LeLacheur (D) was reelected.

1998 – David C. Nangle (D) was elected. Incumbent Edward A. LeLacheur did not seek reelection.

2000 – Vanna Howard (D) was elected. She defeated incumbent David Nangle and Lisa Arnold in the Democratic Primary.

18th Middlesex District (was the 19th Middlesex before 2002).

1978 – Philip L. Shea (45th Middlesex) defeated Robert B. Kennedy (46th Middlesex).

1979 – Timothy M. Rourke (D) won a special election called when incumbent Philip L. Shea was elected to the State Senate in another special election.

1982 – Susan F. Rourke (D) was elected. Incumbent Timothy M. Rourke (her spouse) died in a car accident.

1992 – Steven C. Panagiotakos (D) defeated incumbent Susan F. Rourke.

1996 – Kevin J. Murphy (D) was elected. Incumbent Steven C. Panagiotakos ran for the State Senate.

2014 – Rady Mom (D) was elected. Incumbent Kevin J. Murphy resigned after becoming Lowell City Manager.

2024 – Tara Hong (D) was elected. He defeated incumbent Rady Mom and Andrew Kollar in the Democratic primary.

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This week in my Seen & Heard column, I wrote about a recent visit to the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester to see the visiting exhibit, “Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea”; noted the obituary of former Celtic Don Nelson; commented on a NYT profile of the hosts of the “Rest is History” podcast; and reviewed the book Fire and Light: How the Enlightenment Transformed Our World by James MacGregor Burns.

Time of the End of the Season Part VIII

Time of the End of the Season Part VIII

By Bob Hodge

Bob Hodge grew up in Lowell and went on to graduate from Lowell High (1973) and University of Lowell (1990). He was (and still is) one the greatest runners to come out of this region. He’s also a writer whose 2020 memoir, Tale of the Times: A Runner’s Story, is available at lala books in downtown Lowell and in Kindle format from Amazon. The following is an excerpt from his novel-in-progress.

Already published:

Time episode 1

Time episode 2

Time episode 3

Time episode 4

Time episode 5

Time episode 6

Time episode 7

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Still old I go on and remember.

Old man take a look at my life dream on dream on Sadie and MJ on the beach at Chesapeake one old man dream worth having and I do and I don’t give in to my old man, carry on, carry on.

Long ago long gone lust is a many splendored thing but love hey ho there we go.

As I write and remember I know I am in this for the long haul as long as I’ve got.

I remember my young man wistfully his whimsy.

I re visit him often as past and future collide.

Five years after many trials and tribulations I did learn about love when it grabbed me by the nose and kicked me in the ass.

It is a monumental occasion when you give your entire life to someone full of trepidation at first then lasting peace.

We arrived at Sandridge Beach VA on the Outer Banks around 9 P.M. We found a hotel and the girls went to check in. It was a small room with a double bed for the girls I would curl up on the floor in my bag.

We pulled up some lawn chairs by the motel pool and sat for hours talking fueled by a cooler of beer and some wine and snacks. I swam some laps in the little motel pool and did some leg kicks to revive my legs after so many hours stuffed in the back of the Bug.

I left the girls talking and headed in to have a shower and then I got into my sleeping bag with a copy of Kerouac’s “Desolation Angels.”

The girls came in laughing and MJ said “there is plenty of room in this bed for you too Willy.” I just ignored her. Sadie said “Mary Jo, we don’t want Willy getting a woody.”

Hardee har har, silly girls.

I drifted off dreaming of the sea and the beaches just down the road from the hotel where I would run tomorrow and swim in the surf and relax and read and watch the girls go by my oh my.

I awoke to the smell of coffee brewing and the girls had gone out to get some pastries and juice. “Willy, I hope you didn’t mind us teasing you last night.”

We were blessed with a perfect beach day and strode the half mile to the beach with our provisions. I ran on the beach with a thin running flat on my feet in only a pair of shorts wearing some cheap sunglasses.

I went out just over an hour and then turned around. I stopped to take my shoes off and carried them while I ran by the water’s edge and in a few inches of water my footfalls splashing and I wanted to run all day.

Other than a quick trip to get more sandwiches and beer we stayed on the beach all day. I fell asleep for an hour in the afternoon. I decided to do another short run before leaving and Sadie ran with me for a half hour. “You know Willy Mr. International miler to be, I threw the Javelin and ran cross country in high school.” “But not at the same time, right?”

The girls had been invited to go to a bar with some guys they met at the beach. They wanted me to come but I was not in the mood, I was a good tired and just wanted to hit the feathers early. After they left I worried about them like a parent or sibling would.

I had a good talk with my Dad that night, he had been collecting my mail and sorting out anything looking like they needed attention, especially anything from the AAU or race promoters. It was weird to picture myself back home in Galway in a few days after nearly eight months away.

Passage to India
by Walt Whitman
1
SINGING my days,
Singing the great achievements of the present,
Singing the strong, light works of engineers,
Our modern wonders, (the antique ponderous Seven outvied,)
In the Old World, the east, the Suez canal,
The New by its mighty railroad spann’d,
The seas inlaid with eloquent, gentle wires,
I sound, to commence, the cry, with thee, O soul,
The Past! the Past! the Past!

The Past! the dark, unfathom’d retrospect!
The teeming gulf! the sleepers and the shadows!
The past! the infinite greatness of the past!
For what is the present, after all, but a growth out of the past?
(As a projectile, form’d, impell’d, passing a certain line, still keeps on,
So the present, utterly form’d, impell’d by the past.

I was up early the next morning and out running and had a swim in the pool when I got back. I was beginning to reflect on my time since leaving college and travelling this road. I had begun to keep a journal and had read some of my writing and observations to Sadie and MJ and we got into a discussion about America, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Hypocrisy is rampant, the country was founded in hypocrisy slavery, manifest destiny, trail of tears, civil war, the Alamo, imperialism all underlying the unkept promises and ideas all men are created equal.

It seemed to me at least possible at least here in America you could live more on the edges. You could hike the Appalachian trail and live in a cabin in the woods very simply and not get any more involved than necessary in the daily madness and silliness that is the daily lives of most citizens.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Yes, we do but it doesn’t follow that we can’t be fulfilled in some ways. Freedom is breaking free of possessions, all the crap shoved down your throat on TV break free of TV step outside and sit and be quiet there is your freedom.

Sadie and MJ were cheering me on as I blathered on from my journal, Willy, the rebel without a clue.

I’m not sure why we were landing in Atlantic City; it was just somewhere that Sadie and MJ wanted to see. At the time we arrived there it had been in serious decline from its heyday as a top resort in the country. Recently gambling had arrived and casinos were going up rapidly. It was like the former gold rush in California to me, reaping where you have not sown.

I only planned to spend a few days with Pete and his wife in NYC before heading home. I had been in contact with some friends who ran for this new club, the Beantown Bombers and their fiery coach.

“Come join us at the Boston State track on Tuesday and Thursday nights.” And I did and so then I was on the chosen path.

We arrived in Atlantic City after dark and found a run-down hotel in a seedy neighborhood but the price was right. I went for a short run just twenty minutes feeling ill at ease.

The next day was wonderful though at Branigan Beach for the entire day and in the early evening we travelled to Brooklyn where Pete and his wife were putting all three of us up for the night.

When we got to their place Pete and I went for a run to Prospect Park while the girls got acquainted. Pete was excited for me and envious, his career as a runner having wound down he was a wealth of knowledge and just a great friend to have.

It was like I had known him my entire life and we hardly even spent much time together before this year.

I told Pete I was going to move to Boston and I had a few leads for a job in a shoe factory. We talked about Coach Gerry and the Beantown Bombers “Willy, wait ‘till you meet the WAC he is a great guy, very knowledgeable has a little trouble sometimes getting his point across but lovely guy, would give you the shirt off his back.”

“Why do they call him the WAC?” “Long story Willy, right now I have got to eat and hit the feathers. I hope you can stay another night I have some more news and information to share.”

“Sure thing, Sadie and MJ will be off to Vermont.”

I stayed up late talking with the girls, Pete’s wife Maria was lovely and I was just very happy for them. I could not ever see myself getting married, of course I was only twenty and knew nothing of that longing nagging pounding in the heart.

Sadie and MJ got the couch and I rolled up in my sleeping bag on the floor. I awoke in the morning long after Pete had left for work at the law office. Maria had the day off and was making a big breakfast. I went for a short run and then came back to eat.

It was tough to say goodbye to Sadie and Mary Jo and I hoped that I would see them again. We went for a walk in Prospect Park and Sadie and I sat for a while on a park bench making out all kissy face fortunately or unfortunately nothing further and later MJ and I did the same thing!

“You better come see me in Vermont Willy.” “I will, I love the mountains and of course you’re gonna make me lonesome when you go.”

I spent much of the next day on the phone with my pals in Boston. Donnie and Neil had an apartment in Cleveland Circle area a two bedroom. But, they were willing to put me up on the couch or a fold up cot if I could help with the rent.

Donnie was working at the local shoe company his job opening letters from people requesting shoes who had sent a tracing of their foot and Donnie would pick out the correct width and package them up for shipment.

Neil was in Graduate School at Boston University and received a stipend from this shoe company being an accomplished runner who had done well in the big one the Boston Marathon. Donnie also received a stipend in addition to his regular pay.

Of course, these payments to amateurs were not really legal but were under the radar of the AAU. The athletes were ostensibly employees of the company and paid for work not directly related to their running prowess.

Alby, the Bombers best athlete a Boston Marathon Champion and Olympian was in the process of opening a running store in Cleveland Circle so I might be able to get a job there as well.

Donnie said, “Willy, you can work in the factory whenever you want to start they are always in need of people, but the work is dirty gluing the shoes together all day breathing the fumes.”

When Pete got home we went for a run and discussed the Boston scene. “Willy, there is a lot of excitement being generated there with Coach Gerry and Alby and some great post collegiate athletes joining the Bombers.” “Pete, how come you never joined the Bombers?”

“I would have loved to but I felt some loyalty to the BAA even though they have gotten old and stodgy at this point.”

“I also spoke with Coach Gerry and he said that they might want me to rabbit that mile race in London. He said if I did a good job they would pay me.” “Yes, Willy you should make at least a few hundred dollars.”

“He is trying to get another race for me in Finland a 5 k.” I’m worried about losing my job at the shoe factory if I miss too much time but Coach Gerry said “listen numb nuts you don’t get these opportunities every day. Would you rather sniff glue or run your balls off in Europe?”

“He is right Willy, I never regretted choosing a running opportunity over work when I was younger but I did regret choosing work over running on some occasions.”

I had a relaxing evening with Pete and Maria and hit the hay early. The next morning, I was on the bus back to Boston, Massachusetts.

Part Two

In part one of our story, Willy leaves college behind and with his limited savings buys a bus ticket, a yearly pass to take him around the country visiting with some of the top athletes and coaches in USA Track & Field circles.

Also, in Part One, Willy gets his oats.

Willy, just nineteen years old, experiences many highs and lows and records his adventures in his journal.

The decision to come back to Massachusetts at this time was made after he was asked to leave his former employer and club Spiridon based in Atlanta.

Willy has a spirit — he is head strong, that is admirable but must be tempered. It is both his great gift and biggest downfall.

Willy has one great performance while based in Atlanta he runs a 3:55 mile and on other occasions shows his all-around potential for greatness.

In Boston Willy will be joining up with a unique coach and impressive teammates in a less formal and just all around more fun group in a dynamic college town where running and road racing in particular are becoming de rigueur.

When I got off the bus in Boston in the early afternoon I heard someone yelling “Hey Elmer, over here.” It was Neil, my new roomie and teammate who came to pick me up. I hadn’t thought much about what I was wearing, a trucker cap, a flannel shirt and some baggy faded jeans. “Willy, you look like you are heading out to hunt rabbits’ tee hee he.” Neil had a very distinctive cackle.

I hadn’t thought about my appearance much being on the road and I never had anyone poke fun at me out there, but I was going to have to get accustomed to jive talking and razzing because my new teammates were relentless.

We headed to the apartment at Cleveland Circle and Neil showed me around, not much to see. Two bedrooms for Donnie and Neil, a bathroom, a hallway , a tiny kitchen and a living room with a couch. We headed to the Aegean Fare to eat and Donnie met us there.

Neil had finished second in the ten k at the AAU Nationals in Knoxville, the race where I crashed and burned, and he would be running in the upcoming dual Track & Field Meet against the USSR in Moscow.

“Willy you have got some brass balls going all kamikaze in Knoxville, Neil said.” “That’s how I run Neil, I only have one way.” “What?!” “That’s how you run, you only got one way.” He said in a mocking tone. Donnie, what are we going to do with this guy?”

Donnie said, “Neil it won’t be long before Willy here is kicking your ass, he got a 3:55 you will never get anywhere near that.” Neil said, “I ran 3:59 on a relay leg in college.” “A friggin relay leg Geezus that’s lame, you know that don’t count Mr. 4:05.”

Well, things went on this way a very lively and animated and comical dialog ensued and I might have joined in but being the new guy, I just sat back and took it all in.

“Willy, we will be heading to the track at four and I need to study, so later.” Neil shut himself up in his room and Donnie and I talked a bit and then I spotted a guitar in the corner.

“Who is the guitar player.” “That would be me Donnie said, you play?” I played a few things, my fingers out of shape not having played for a long while. “Donnie, I will be heading out to Galway tomorrow to visit my family and I will bring my guitar when I come back.”

At four we suited up and ran a few miles over to the Boston State Track. “Wait until you meet the WAC” Neil said. “Why do they call him the WAC?” “It’s just an expression the Coach has his WAC speak.”

About a dozen runners were at the track and Coach Gerry looking dapper in his suit and tie. Neil introduced me to Coach, “Well, if it ain’t the wonder kid. Welcome to the group, we can chat after we get the work done here.

”We did various interval Coach timing us but often neglecting to shout out the split as we passed being busy talking with someone. One of the group, Harold carried a watch and would call splits for us as well as he ran.One thing that was very noticeable was the loose feeling of the group, these guys had fun and worked together not to say there weren’t egos involved.

After the workout I sat in the stands with coach, and we talked about my running and my upcoming race in London. I offered to show him my logs, but he said he got the idea. “Listen Willy you just keep showing up here and we all together will help you and you will help us. I don’t baby sit anyone here, if you don’t follow my instructions fine then go your own way.

You are always welcome to run with this group and benefit.”We talked about my former coaches, “They are good men Willy, good coaches, but I have a feeling this group of more mature runners and this atmosphere will be better for you than being isolated out in Podunk.”

I mentioned my interest in running the Boston Marathon. “What!? The WAC laughed, you think you a tough guy? Willy, track racing is like breaking a finger, the marathon is like breaking both legs. Now let’s go to the clubhouse and have a drink.”

Miracle Sun

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pI4Ah0RGfhc&pp=0gcJCYsCo7VqN5tD&ra=m