It’s amazing the stories so-called ‘everyday people’ may have up their sleeves. Especially the old folks, who in our youth obsessed culture we so quickly and easily dismiss.
The other day I had to go to an older couple’s house for some business dealings. I had been dealing with the lady on the phone but when I got there I met the husband. I’ll call him Ed.
Ed was a bit gruff and had this, “Who the hell are you” look on his face when I introduced myself. Once I explained, he lightened up a bit but I could tell at the core he was a bit gruff. With maybe a dash of meanness -but mostly just kind of gruff.
So I went inside and talked with the folks about some work they were considering and then they had me walk through their house. In doing so I walked through what appeared to be Ed’s office. And on the wall was a collection of pictures of some young guy –which I assumed to be him –posing and smiling and shaking hands with some serious legends. Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Ronald Reagan (the actor not the president) to name a few. I was like, whoa, I gotta ask him about this.
So after a little bit of yakking about this and that I said, “So is that you in those pictures with Bing and Sinatra?” I knew it was but I had to know the story.
“Yeah, yeah… that’s me…” he said.
Turns out this gruff old gent was a football star for USC in the 40’s and the Rat Pack -among others- were huge fans who would hit him up for game tickets.
As I looked over the wall a bit more closely I saw pictures of him making these studly plays wearing the old style leather ‘helmets’ and not-so-padded looking pads.
His stories about the guys were brief but interesting. He said Sammy Davis Jr. was one small dude.
He explained, “When I met Sammy the first time and shook his hand he yelled, “What the hell are you doing to me man!!”
I did notice when I shook Ed’s hand he had quite the firm grip –especially for a guy in his eighties. But I guess it was a bit much for Sammy. Ed said to Sammy, “What are you talking about?” “Your breaking my hand Man!!” They laughed it off but Ed was amazed at how tiny and fragile Sammy was –especially his hands.
He went on to tell me, “They were crazy, crazy guys. Really nice and fun but non-stop partiers. I remember one time there was this big fight in the hotel we were all staying at…. Cops showed up and everything.”
He didn’t go into details but the look on his face told quite a tale.
I noticed in the pictures basically everyone appeared to be about a foot taller then him. He was about 5’ 9” and given the age-equals-shrinking factor he was probably 5’10” (or more) back then.
“Yeah, they all stood on stools for the pictures. It was a big deal for them to appear larger than life, especially when standing next to somebody who wasn’t a ‘star’.”
Too funny.
So the next time you’re tempted to yell at some ‘old guy’ to get outta your way –think twice, he could be somebody that deserves way more respect than you’ll ever get.
What a great story! Is that him on the picture?
I will not be making ANY eye contacts with old people from now on – out of respect for them 😉