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Not long ago my grandson and I paid a visit to my old neighborhood on Queen Anne Hill.
Grandpa wanted to share a few stories from his childhood.
We passed my favorite park, the store where I bought candy, my grade school and my very first job.
It was there we lingered.
It was the site of the former County Hospital where patients in need of long-term care resided, many of whom never left.
From 1962 to 1964 I was the paper boy for the hospital.
I met remarkable people there and heard unforgettable stories from which I learned a boatload of important lessons.
Here’s one lesson:
The Story of Two Warriors
- Peter was a quadriplegic who severed his spinal cord in a diving accident on the Columbia River.
- John had contracted polio and spent his early years in an iron lung.
They were roommates in the hospital.
They both were from Eastern Washington and shared similar medical conditions:
- permanently bedridden
- marginal use of their limbs
- without close relatives
- highly intelligent
They’d met while in rehab and bonded over their mutual interest in horse racing.
My paper route ended each day in their room where I often found a swirl of activity.
The first thing you’d see when you entered their room was the Longacres racing calendar (which later became Emerald Downs) with race dates highlighted.
It was the symbol of their NEW life.
John and Peter had figured out a way to find meaning in their otherwise dismal circumstances.
- They loved horses
- They loved racing
- They had time
- They needed money
So they pooled their talents and became masters in the fine art of horse race handicapping.
Now, that hadn’t always been the plan.
Peter’s life was changed the weekend before he was to enter Washington State University as an engineering student. His errant dive cancelled out his dream of becoming an aeronautical engineer.
For John it was a picnic where he contracted the polio virus which ended any thought of him becoming a singer.
During rehab together they got the idea to fashion
- a different dream
- a different career
- a different reason to live
A life in horse racing.
When I met them race handicapping was their full-time job.
I learned horse racing is a complicated business. There are a myriad of variables that go into successful wagering.
Beyond just understanding a horse’s pedigree and racing history, John and Peter spent hours studying the racing histories of the owners, trainers and jockeys. They analyzed the weather forecast and track conditions.
They were masters at evaluating how each horse was likely to respond to the unique race conditions.
They operated with surgical precision.
And they won — a lot.
These guys were bedridden but I never heard them complain about
- bedsores
- hospital food
- family
Nope.
They just focused on their next race.
Room 216 was NOT a place of misery, but a place of business.
When I arrived at 4:15 during the racing season I would be handed ten cents, a list of races, and instructions on how to wager.
I went down to the lobby, called their bookie, placed their bets, then collected a dollar for my time (big money for me).
Some days I walked into their room and they’d be surrounded by people writing down their tips on upcoming races.
They were just that good.
I think back on those two warriors and ask myself:
- What would I have done if I’d been dealt their hand?
- Would I have come up with a new dream?
- How would I have made a life for myself?
At 13 I was headstrong and not in control of myself. I needed to learn I wasn’t always going to get my way in the world.
Sometimes life would deal me an incredibly difficult hand and it would for me to figure out how to play.
On many occasions I was laid low. It would be then I’d remember the lesson I learned from the Two Warriors at the County Hospital.
All hands are playable.
Just a thought…
Pat
For today’s music for the ages enjoy this recording of “The Weight,” written by the late Robbie Robertson of The Band, commemorating the 50th anniversary of its original recording.