Little Rock, Arkansas, Visit -- Baseball, Books and Gorilla Suit!
Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 5:30PM The magic of Skype transported me today from the office in my home in East Greenwich, RI, to the computer lab at The Cathedral School in Little Rock, Arkansas, to visit with 5th Graders.
They were aware I had been a sports writer, covering the Boston Red Sox for 22 years before retiring in September, 2008, and they knew that I had written children's books, including several non-fiction baseball books, such as "Play Ball Like the Pros."
They also, thanks to a visit to my website, knew that I owned a gorilla suit.
And they asked me all about baseball, books and the gorilla suit in our 45-minute virtual visit.
So I told them how I became a writer, that I used to read a lot when I was a kid, especially Matt Christopher sports books. And I also read bedtime stories to my younger sister, planting a seed in my brain that some day I wanted to write my own children's books.
Their questions led me to tell them that I hadn't grown up wanting to be a sports writer. I wanted to be a professional baseball player, but, despite being a three-year starter at Columbia, becoming co-captain my senior year, when I was voted the team's MVP, I wasn't good enough for the pros. But, as I told them, because I knew how to write (sports editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator), I managed to find a career in which the Providence (RI) Journal newspaper paid me to watch games for 33 years.
I also was able to show them replicas of artifacts I have from the Baseball Hall of Fame because I'm on the Hall's Education Advisory Council. I showed them a 1940s catcher's mitt and a 1950's fielder's glove. They were most impressed, however, by Ozzie Smith's St. Louis Cardinals jersey and hat, especially since they happen to be The Cathedral School Cardinals!
So it was a nice visit. I hope they got something out of my stories and talk of writing in general.
Oh, and the gorilla suit. One young woman asked me about it because there is a picture of me in the hairy suit on my website. She wanted to know what was up with that.
Well, I always have had a fondness for monkeys and gorillas. Maybe I was one in a past life! Anyway, as I type this there are 11 stuffed monkeys and gorillas sitting in my office, looking over my shoulder.
The suit is something I was known for in the neighborhood when our kids were younger. Around Halloween, everyone knew the gorilla taking his kids trick or treating. One woman used to offer me a banana every year!
Halloween is one of all-time favorite nights of the year. And you can be sure that this coming Halloween night I will be standing at my door, handing out candy to the 100 or so kids who will come by. I'll have my mask on, but over the years I haven't decided if I scare more kids with my mask on or when I take my mask off!!
Thank you Ms O'Quin, the fifth grade teacher; Peggy Pierce, the librarian, Janice Rogers, technical support, and the 5th Grade students for making my first "visit" to Arkansas a pleasant one.
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