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.
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!!
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.
Thanks, Prue - the video conveys some of the beauty of rowing, although the degree of musculature and oar synchronicity are entirely unfamiliar to me. Our version was more of a Keystone Kops affair.
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
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!
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.
I remember reading lots of Thurber when I was a kid, and Dorothy Parker. Kaye was on my mind because I just caught The Court Jester, a favorite movie growing up, for him and the recently dead Glynis Johns.
"Get it?" "Got it." "Good!" So many great lines in that film, and Kaye's clowning, as when he fights with Basil Rathbone, is sublime.
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.’
What an entertaining story. I very much enjoyed being brought back to the days of boundless energy and enthusiasm!
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.
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
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
Thanks, Prue - the video conveys some of the beauty of rowing, although the degree of musculature and oar synchronicity are entirely unfamiliar to me. Our version was more of a Keystone Kops affair.
I loved reading this..very funny!
A wonderfully evocative story of another time. Love it!
Thanks for my morning chuckle!
Loved it! Thanks.
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 …….
Thanks, Betsy, and hi to you both! Misadventures are still adventures.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
(Especially when you are 20).
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!
and now it's back to The Gazette, much as its title once was
Delightful read from the time we were immortal. Great stuff, David.
Thanks so much, David!
Oh, what a treat to be transported back in time - and to read such lovely writing. Thank you.
Thanks, Susan - and nice to reconnect with you from our shared Montreal days (unless, of course, you're an entirely different Susan Schwartz)!
What an evocative memoir essay!
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.
Some people are guided by The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I prefer The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Was that Danny Kaye?
It started out as a wonderful short story by James Thurber back in 1939. Danny Kaye did indeed play Mitty in the first movie version. Good memory!
I remember reading lots of Thurber when I was a kid, and Dorothy Parker. Kaye was on my mind because I just caught The Court Jester, a favorite movie growing up, for him and the recently dead Glynis Johns.
"Get it?" "Got it." "Good!" So many great lines in that film, and Kaye's clowning, as when he fights with Basil Rathbone, is sublime.
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.’
I agree 100%; we definitely put the “amateur” into our performance (as well as the “idiot”)