Erickson Tribune

Forums > Tribune Forum Group > Spirituality
Subject: Before Role Model becme a Buzz Word
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
James Fosbrink (guest)
05/29/2006 6:09 PM Alert 
The year was 1941. A former campsite of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had been turned over to another recovery program ---- the National Youth Administration (NYA) and became a resident trade school to teach entry level trade skills to underprivileged boys. I was an 18-year-old from the soft coal western side of Pennsylvania. In this depression era setting, I met Jim Speicher, a 20-year-old from the heart of the anthracite region. Jim was about 4 inches shy of my 6 foot frame. He spoke with what I thought was an Irish brogue. I later understood it was just an eastern Pennsylvania dialect. Jim brought a rare brand of humor to our drab, somewhat military-like surroundings. His ability to make others laugh at our routine daily lives made our barrack buddies refer to him with affection as that crazy guy Speicher. Once after a softball game, Jim took a bat and announced he could fling it thirty feet or more and it would return to him like a boomerang. Jim started to swing the bat in a wide circle over his head. Suddenly, hr paused and said, "First, someone must bet a dollar I can't do it." When an offer was made to accept the wager, Jim responded, "Let's make it five dollars." A brief pause followed as the once eager bettors wavered. Before anyone could accept the five dollars wager, Jim spoke again, "Let's make this worthwhile. Let's bet ten dollars." Coincidentally, ten dollars just happened to be the exact amount of a trainee's monthly check from the government. The bettors were now being challenged to risk an entire month's income on a feat Jim convincingly said he could perform. There were no takers. With a big smile and a chuckle, Jim admitted the feat was impossible. Years later, I was again exposed to the technique in a Dale Carnegie self-improvement class. I immediately recognized it as the lesson Jim had sought to teach me. I will always refer to the event as the day I learned to be wary of all sales pitches, regardless of how much I might want to see a ball-bat fly like a boomerang. The residents of the training center came from poor, hard working families where the fathers were unemployed coal miners, railroaders or mill workers. Few of the residents had the demeanor of choirboys. In this melting pot of ethnic backgrounds, most of the residents could be described as a bunch of tough cookies. Jim's bunk was next to mine. At nine o'clock the barracks lights were turned off. During this time each night, Jim knelt quietly by his bunk with head bowed and hands folded in the act of praying. This humble scene never failed to quiet the toughest of tough cookies sharing our barracks. In this special silence, I witnessed the act of a person communing with the Lord. This story could have ended when Jim and I left the center. However, our paths were destined to cross again. In the mid-fifties I walked into a restaurant in Buffalo, New York and spotted Jim. I recognized him immediately. It took him a few moments to remember me. Over the next twenty years, we visited each other often and watched each other's children grow. We often reminisced about our days at the center and how the training and community living experience prepared us for early employment and life in the military. We agreed the National Youth Administration was one government program that worked because it gave us a start to be contributors to a society in which we believe. As time passed, my employment took me to another city and our contacts became limited to an occasional letter and Christmas card exchange. I traveled back to be at Jim’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1996 and shared a draft of this story. I was able to visit Jim on one later occasion before he passed away of complications from Parkinson’s disease in February 1999. I’ve always felt I owed a lot to Jim. I will remember him as the person who helped me see humor in many aspects of life and to understand the power of a positive approach to opportunities. His devotion to his faith planted the seeds of humility within me. I have always considered Jim a role model in my life long before the term became a popular buzz word. jefosbrink@aol.com
Wow (guest)
06/08/2006 3:30 PM Alert 

Mr. Fosbrink, I am inspired by your writing. Even more so, I'm inspired by the strength of your life-long friendship.

Congratulations on both fronts,

Tom
Annieil (guest)
06/26/2006 11:45 PM Alert 
Your  message is awe inspiring!  Annieil
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Forums > Tribune Forum Group > Spirituality > Before Role Model becme a Buzz Word


ActiveForums 3.5

Top Stories | Community News | Forums | Videos

Erickson Communities | Erickson Health | The Erickson School of Aging
Careers at Erickson | About Us | Privacy Statement | Contact Us