FROM GOOD OLE UNCLE VIC

February 2006

   The answer to last month's quiz, where did the phrase "The whole kit and caboodle" originate? The answer is: it is a Dutch phrase meaning "the whole bundle." Those who got it right were Joan Bennett, Nora McDonald, Renee Myers, Laurie DeHoff, Andrea Mitsos, Drew Bonner and Malcolm Kahraman.

   This month's quiz, who is the only player to be named the "Most Valuable Player" in the Super Bowl that played on the losing team, what Super Bowl was it including the year, who did he play for and who did he play against? Send your answers to: lisa.hemovich@brickbodies.com.

   The holidays were not an entirely joyous occasion in the Brick household. My cousin Debbie's husband, Stuart Quan, died of a heart attack. 44 years old, a world champion martial arts grand master, Hollywood stunt man, owner of his own dojo, and the proud father of a five year old son and one year old daughter, Stuart died suddenly while returning from a ski trip with some friends outside of Fresno, California.

   When I heard of Stuart's passing there was no doubt that I was going to attend the funeral. Debbie is the daughter of my mother's sister, Auntie Maria. Auntie Maria and Auntie Linda helped raise us in the Philippines, Okinawa and Hawaii. I am very close to Debbie and her older sister, Brenda. I had missed both of their weddings. Why? I can't even remember. I wasn't about to miss this funeral.

   The funeral was on Friday the 13th of January. Unfortunately I had a very busy week. I had a function in New York on Thursday and my son, Jon, had his biggest game of the year at the Citadel in Charleston on Saturday. Nonetheless I was determined to be there.

   Here is what I did. Thursday Lynne and I took a train up to New York. We stayed the night and I got up at 4:30 AM to catch a 6:30 AM flight out of La Guardia to Fresno. I got there at 12:30PM and went straight to the graveside service at the cemetery. I stayed for the reception and spent some time with the family at Debbie's house. Then I caught a 9:30 PM flight to Reagan International in DC. I arrived at 7 AM. Lynne met me there to catch an 8:15 flight to Charleston. We arrived at 10, saw Jon's game, spent the night and returned to Reagan at 3 PM the next day. Of course we had an hour's drive back to Baltimore from Reagan. As Wellington said after almost meeting disaster at Quatre Bras the day before Waterloo, "It was a closely run thing!"

   Why did I do such a crazy thing? Because my cousin needed me. And sometimes no matter what it takes, you have to be there. Months from now I will not remember how tired I was, but years from now she will remember I was there. I didn't say a whole lot. Lord knows I wasn't there that long. But I was there. Sometimes timing is everything. Sometimes you don't get a second chance. Sometimes it IS more than the thought that counts. Sometimes you have to be there.

   Another thing about being there. Sometimes if they have to ask, it isn't worth it. I remember playing basketball for the Silver Spring Boys Club when I was 12 years old in 1965. I made the year-end All-Tournament Team. The awards ceremony was down at Jellef Boys Club in Southeast DC. I was so excited and proud, but when I told my dad he said he was too busy to drive me down. I was crushed. He saw how disappointed I was and ended up taking me, but the damage was done. I knew he really didn't want to be there, and I remember my hurt to this day.

   Sometimes your presence is required no matter how closely a run thing it is. Sometimes you don't get a second chance.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY