30 Comments
Jan 8Liked by Alice Goldbloom

What an entertaining story. I very much enjoyed being brought back to the days of boundless energy and enthusiasm!

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Rowing is such a beautiful sport... but not for spastic people like me. I love living vicariously through beautiful prose, what a great read. Thank you.

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Jan 8Liked by Alice Goldbloom

and to my earlier message that the upcoming political innings will not crack us up in my earlier meaning as in funny.,yes they well crack us up in the other meaning, meaning you will need to get back into clinical practice!!

Mary Anne Ferguson

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Jan 7·edited Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

Such an enjoyable read.

I sat on my 40 year old son's Ergo the other day (rowing machine) and almost had cardiac arrest after about 8 pulls!

But I love the sport of rowing - my two children rowed right through their school years and even now when Olympic rowing comes on the TV, I have to stop and watch the grace and power of those amazing shells.

Well done you for having a go.

You may like to watch this: my kids' Alma Mater's open crew in training last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPJpu330LaM

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

I loved reading this..very funny!

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

A wonderfully evocative story of another time. Love it!

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

Thanks for my morning chuckle!

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

Loved it! Thanks.

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

LOL. My sister rowed with an all women’s club in Philadelphia and in high school I was friends with the University of Pennsylvania coxswain and got to ride with the coach at early morning practices. After watching practices (running up and down the football stadium levels to warm up) I think its one of the toughest sports, so

Kudos for even getting from start to finish.

Anything for a story …….

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream.

(Especially when you are 20).

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

A common enough name, but it’s me from your Montreal days! Your cousin Michael and I were summer students at The Gazette back what now feels like about a hundred years ago!

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

Delightful read from the time we were immortal. Great stuff, David.

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

Oh, what a treat to be transported back in time - and to read such lovely writing. Thank you.

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

What an evocative memoir essay!

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

This morning I started the day with maximum return on my investment in David Goldbloom memories.

Good looking undergraduates in yellow (too MeToo?), my own recollection of sailing on that predictably unpredictable Charles, and the feeling that being of a considerable age is the time to commit similar acts of absurdity. Cheering you on, David - what’s your next challenge? Please wear yellow.

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Jan 7Liked by Alice Goldbloom

I attended Northeastern around the same time. I joined the first women’s crew ‘club’ we weren’t yet a team. I lifted weights, rowed in the tank, got blisters. I never got to row on the Charles as I was on co-op so not on campus in the spring. I do remember visions of the Head of the Charles but also remember having to prove we could swim ( collision anyone?) And having to have to have our vaccinations up to date as the Charles was in a far less pristine state than it is now. It’s good to look back and appreciate who we were and the things we tried back in the day. Sometimes I’m feel sorry for students who arrive at college already having done or played any sport to such extreme levels that it may not be quite so much fun anymore. High school travel teams, playing the same sport year round…..there is something to be said for fun…..a challenge….memories.

Loved your article and loved the book ‘Boys in the Boat.’

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