The Ocean is marked by emptiness
July 10, 2012 at 12:30 PM | Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Family Life | Leave a commentTags: Atlantic Ocean, Egypt Beach, Georgica, Gilgo, Indian Wells, Ingrid Kainz, Jack Mackey, Jones Beach, Luke Mackey, Main
The Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Long Island takes on the name of its beaches, whether the Jones and Gilgo beaches of my youth or now Main, Georgica, Indian Wells and Egypt. These names create illusion as they seek to narrow the incomprehensible and give us our own private possession. When something is empty the Buddhists say that it is not just one thing but everything.
Luke on the beach
When I was young I went often to the beach and rode the waves in. Then as a teenager, one summer, missed just two week days. Young Ingrid Kainz, a young slip of a thing, and I went often as we dated.
Now, my oldest grandson Jack is in his second year of being chased by the endless waves and Luke ‘hit the beach’ for his first time just the other day.
As we left the beach I asked Jack if he wanted to take the ocean back with him to Illinois. He looked at it and said that he couldn’t because it was too big.
Jack in his element
Indeed it is young fellow. It is so big and so empty.
Fare-thee-well, Jeremy Lin
February 25, 2012 at 9:24 AM | Posted in Basketball, Fan-dom, Sports | 6 CommentsTags: Brendan Mackey, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Dave Ramseur, Gary Nelson, Jack Mackey, Jeremy Lin, Joe Sommers, Knicks, Luke Mackey, Marv Albert, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed
from days long ago
They say that Clark Gable never got over the death of Carole Lombard and I have never gotten over the golden Knick period that began with the drafting of Willis Reed and ended with the wrenching travesty known as the trade, the betrayal, of the greatest Knick of them all, Walt Frazier, to Cleveland. In that time we had our two championships but for those with their ear to the radio voice of Marv Albert, it was a period like none other in our lives. I will in a future post name the names once again but this piece belongs to Jeremy Lin.
Of course I heard of Jeremy Lin just after his first start and his tremendous first game. I read of his 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. My son Brendan, a die-hard, was in Lin-topia right from the start. Then I got a message from the good Dr. Ramseur about Lin and the southsider Gary Nelson chimed in. Most surprising of all, Joe Sommers, he of the single-digit handicap, sent Lin-signals from South Carolina.
I had not seen a minute of play as I sensed that the bubble would burst the minute I tuned in and so it came to pass. I watched much of the game against the Heat and it was painful to see Lin stripped so often but more so to see him shoot so many floaters. Floaters are doomed and Clyde never shot one, to my memory.
I had, in that early Knick stretch, as much intense pleasure (and some pain) as any man deserves. I can’t take anymore and I have nothing left to give. I wish you well Jeremy Lin and I leave you in the capable rooting hands of my son Brendan and my grandchildren, Jack and Luke.
What Am I Doing?
January 22, 2012 at 5:16 PM | Posted in Meditation, Personal Development | 1 CommentTags: Luke Mackey, Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh, in his chapter on Right Thinking gives the following advice: at points in the day, ask yourself ‘what am I doing.’
Today, each time I tried it, whether swimming or holding my grandchild Luke, I found myself not all there – but then I was.
The Prince and his Radio Flyer
December 26, 2011 at 4:54 PM | Posted in Family Life | Leave a commentTags: Ingrid Mackey, Jack Mackey, Luke Mackey, Radio Flyer
A family’s first grandchild, if a boy, is a prince and hard to impress: his needs, desires, whims are known throughout his kingdom. If this particular prince is surrounded by grandmothers and aunts, all the more so. So yesterday Prince Jack, still carefree and having come from the hospital and seeing how small his new brother was and surely not a threat to his dominance, settled down to open his Christmas presents at yet one more house — ours.
Ingrid, the Prince’s grandmother to the east, had a brainstorm. Yes, it was the perfect present, but would his Lordship nod, would he hop aboard?
Yes he would! Let the bells ring out!
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