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In thinking about my younger days and the decisions I made I recall a drawing hanging above the desk of Rene’ Kern. Rene’ was the LIU basketball coach as well as the department head of the Athletic Department of the Brooklyn Central YMCA. This memory is pre 1961, I was to learn that this event was a pivotal step towards my enlistment into the US NAVY. So under the heading of GOTCHA, Here’s the story.

You could say that when I wasn’t in High School I could be found at the Y. Not knowing the depth of the attraction the Y was to me, but in a vey primal way, I felt it was a safe haven for me. The Y was a place where I was accepted; It was cozy and warm It was the place that I went from being a Member to a Jr. leader to staff all in the period of 6 years. I thought that just as long as I didn’t get tag for not being in school I was safe. But it didn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure to that I was playing Hookey if I was there during the school hours. It is especially clear that I was truant since Mom had been in contact with Mr. Bob Young (Head of the Youth Division of the Y) and she shared with him my plan to quit HS and that most days I was playing Hookey. Mom was asking for help, she sought that Bob might be able to help. For Mom it was an attempt to get me on track to be someone, but for me she violated my space and brought a part of that the Y did not know and now I was caught.

On one of these days I was caught by Bob. I recall being marched off to his office where he had a long discussion with me. Bob was laying out a plan that pretty much secured me career. Somehow It seemed to them that I’m perfectly fitted for an education in Teaching, with a major influence in Physics Ed. And as long as I got through HS, with a diploma to show for it then college would work especially since it would be a course of study in what I loved to do, to help others. As Part of this discussion the two of us went upstairs to Rene’s office. It was then that I realized I wasn’t getting away with anything, I had been seen most days and it just took time for a course of action to be formulated. So as I sat and listened to Rene’ I learned that they have been watching me grow into. this young adult who knew how to help others. Rene’ went on to say, that through the Y they were prepared to offer me a scholdarship to Springfield Teachers College where could major in teaching and find my footing.

But this is about the drawing on the wall of Rene’s office. The drawing shows two mules, harness together with a length of rope between them and each pulling against the other to reach the pile of hay. As long as they pulled against each other the short rope held them back from the hay and both would starve because of their stubbornness. But If they each share each others stack of hay, their appetite would be well sate and tummys full… There are many adages that one can relate this parable to. For me the lessons of the Y were always clear to me, teamwork.

Imagine an immature 16 year old, who lacked the ability to focus on the lessons in front of him. How will he ever measure up to the image they have of him. Just imagine, trying to make sense of what his responsibilities are; surely for him it adds up to disappearing… Embrassed, absolutely. Why, because I thought that no one saw me being truant. I thought that their faith in me created was misplaced, I wasn’t worthy of this gift. for me the path forward showed the streets and what ever would fall my way. I certainly wasn’t worthy of the faith they had in me, and clearly wasn’t capable of of doing what they asked for, get a diploma.

Jumping ahead to early 1961, and my attempt to call Mom’s bluff that; “She won’t sign” (advice given to me by a friend) the needed authorization for my enlistment into the USN. I am meeting Mom at Joe’s the diner/resturant where Mom works and after the lunchtime rush together we are going to the recruiters office. I am so proud of myself by qualifying, especially since this will mark the day that she gets off my back about my aimless ways. Today after she declines to sign, I’m FREE. So together we walk the several blocks to the recruiter. I’ll cut to the chase here: I was sworn in on April 10, 1961 at Whitehall Street, NYC and that evening with many others we flew out of Idlewwild Airport with a final destination being Naval Recruit Training Center Great Lakes, Ill.. Right Mom was not bluffing.