Foreword

Wise men speak because they have something to say;

Fools speak because they have to say something. –Plato

“December greetings” from Plato’s Fool! Once again, I

write merely because I have to an unmet need to try to ‘say
something’ during this year-end season. When this series
began, my village was a homogeneous, isolated, two-
dimensional community revolving around a simple,
Methodist church. But now, decades later, Yellow Springs
and Conestoga County are full of diverse, multi-cultural,
welcoming people who, like me, are just trying to figure it
all out.
I’ve never told you before, but my stories all have had a
tip-of-the-hat to people, places, or occurrences that I had
in mind as I wrote; this year, I’m sharing some of those tip-
of-the-hats with you in endnotes that I hope won’t be too
annoying.
If you are so interested, you can find the previous
annual stories in several places this year:
1. I’m (slowly) migrating all 32 of the prior tales in a
Google drive that you can access by placing this link
into your browser:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QZj2oGxD
Gu7Le-BmmE-fTBslGd6la9hM
2. But for now, I still have a “shelf” at Scribd.com, a
digital library with a cool collection of pdf uploads,
ebooks, audiobooks, sheet music, and more. My page
is https://www.scribd.com/user/116839579/Bill-
Kennedy .
3. And you can also find links to the stories through my
Facebook page entitled “Yellow Springs Stories,”
which you can type into the search bar, or go
directly to
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063
604626042.
Here’s wishing you peace, health, and safety as we move
Bill Kennedy through this holiday season. - Bill
© 2024 William D. Kennedy ([email protected])
1
“Y ou look like you’ve just seen a ghost, Uncle Arlo!”
exclaimed Lorna Loomis as she handed the older gent a
My big brother had a big, long sled -- a Flexible Flyer that
was taller than me. But I loved ol’ Snappy Boy because it
cup of hot cocoa from the Daily Grind and joined him on was my size. We used to get real snows back then, and I’d
the park bench across from Flegelhoffer’s Fair Value in the fly down McIlvain’s Mountain on my Snappy Boy.” Arlo
heart of Yellow Springs, knee deep in Conestoga County. added, “It was really just a hill, but boy, we had fun!”
Arlo Loomis1 closed his wide-open jaw and shook his Rusty picked up the sled from the front window bay.
head to clear the cobwebs. “I think I see a ghost of “You know, Mr. Loomis,” Rusty said, “I think this sled
Christmas past!” Arlo articulated. He squinted through his means a whole lot more to you as a memory-holder than it
trifocal spectacles and pointed, “Over there -- in does to us as a bit of window-dressing. I insist: you take it
Flegelhoffer’s window-- do you see what I see?” -- no charge -- call it Flegelhoffer’s Christmas gift to you.”
Lorna turned to gaze, waiting for a few cars to pass, but Lorna was flabbergasted by the kind gesture, but old
her eyes caught nothing out of the ordinary, “What? In the Uncle Arlo got all squinty-eyed. Shopkeepers don’t just give
window display?” All she saw was a short sled. away their merchandise. “Something wrong with it?” Arlo
“Yes!” Arlo uttered excitedly, “I do believe I see a ghost asked suspiciously.
of Christmas past! Isn’t that an original Snappy Boy sled? “Be nice, Uncle Arlo,” Lorna urged him. “You’re
I’d swear that’s the one I had as a kid!” wearing a red Santa hat -- you can’t be grumpy when you
“Well,” Lorna considered, “I wear a Santa Claus hat.”
suppose it just might be! “No,” Rusty laughed, “it’s in pretty good shape. But I
Flegelhoffer’s expanded a lot this only got it off of eBay as a decoration -- folks don’t seem all
year -- they took over some of the that interested in sleds with metal runners anymore. Looks
vacant storefronts nearby. They’re to me like the memory of this sled means a lot to you, so
not just a hardware store you take it.” Seeing Arlo’s continued suspicion about
anymore.2 They now have outdoor gear, toys, and even receiving a free gift, Rusty added quickly, “I’ll hold it for
some antiques. Let’s go take a look.” you behind the counter if you want to look around the
Lorna took the Arlo’s arm as they crossed the street. Arlo store a bit.”
paused as they entered, sniffing all those old-store aromas
as they stood on the rutted, paint-splattered wooden floor The December holidays of the Winter Solstice,
that had been trodden upon by generations of builders and Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all come more than
do-it-yourself’ers. Arlo is an official Old Timer, so he six weeks after Hallowe’en, but it seems this year that
expected to be greeted by proprietor Felix Flegelhoffer, but ‘ghosts’ have been on the minds of many Yellow Springers.
it was the junior partner Rusty Nailor who smiled when College senior Pippa Piper has a good reason to have ghosts
they came in. on-the-brain: the English Literature major at came home
Arlo asked breathlessly, “Is that a 1962, Snappy Boy, 41- from nearby Oxthorn University for the winter break after
inch maple sled with black iron runners?”3 finishing her final exam essay on 19th Century British
“It most certainly is,” Rusty responded, rather surprised author Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol. Pippa
that anyone knew such specific details. is a thoughtful student, but she wasn’t sure how well she
Arlo gazed lovingly at the short sled. “I loved my old had done on the essay.
Snappy Boy!” he confessed. “I got it when I was 6 years old. Pippa’s mother Polly Piper joked, “If they’d have let you
read it out loud, you’d be a guaranteed ‘A’!”
2
 Pippa glared at her. She hates to be thought of as ‘just a
voice’ --even though, in fact, her voice has become
universally ubiquitous. You see, back when she was a mere Widowed for years, Dewey Dauerditter lived over at the
freshman, Pippa got involved with the campus radio Fallow Farm retirement community, where sometimes, the
station, WOXS.4 Her close-to-the-mic voice became quite ghosts of past seem darn near omnipresent. As hard as the
popular -- strong, yet inviting, profound, and inclusive. staff works to enliven residents with a zest for the present
Pippa had started out doing a few hourly news-and- and future, the senior residents can be haunted by the
weather updates and moved on a weekly late-night, smooth people who are no longer there.
jazz show, where her sonorous alto voice seemed to soothe Dewey has been especially sensitive to the Ghosts of the
insomniacs.5 Past this year. He’s been mighty grumpy all season. He
WOXS streams across the internet, and nearly bit off the head of Fallow Farm Executive Director
somehow, Pippa’s voice caught the ear of an Rhonda Gloch7 when she paused in a hallway one day.
audio production company called Pathz6 -- Sympathetically, she said, “I saw the news about old
an internet mapping program provided both teammate, Pierre Pierpont; I’m sorry for your loss.”
visual and aural instructions on your cell phone or car “Thanks for reminding me!” Dewey growled. He
monitor when you drive somewhere. Pippa spent all of last challenged her, “Next you wanna remind me that there’s
summer working as an audio artist, speaking a dictionary’s only five of us left from that team?!?”
worth of words and phrases into a microphone; her words Rhonda was only mildly surprised by the reaction. She
have been converted by artificial intelligence into coherent had run Fallow Farm for 20 years -- she had seen a lot of
sentences that tell drivers what to do, like how ‘In’ ‘Half’ ‘A’ folks fill their final years with an active, stimulating
‘Mile,’ ‘Turn’ ‘Left’ ‘On’ ‘’Westbound’ ‘Yellow’ ‘Springs’ lifestyle, but she also knew it could be hard for residents --
‘Pike’ -- or that drivers should ‘Watch’ ‘Out,’ ‘Police’ for anyone, really -- to contemplate their own mortality.
‘Reported’ ‘Ahead.’ Which is what happens when, like Dewey Dauerditter, you
Polly’s wife Danielle Dauerditter suggested, “Ignore your hear about the passing of someone you knew from way
mother; I’m sure you wrote an excellent essay. Tell us back when. You spend most of your life never knowing the
about it.” people whose names fill the obituaries, and then, towards
“We had to write any two of the ghosts and compare the end of your time, not a day goes by when you don’t
them in terms of their impact on the theme of the book. I recognize a name -- and some of them were younger than
took the first two ghosts, Jacob Marley and the Ghost of you! A former sports star, like Dewey’s teammate. Or an
Christmas Past. But I’m not at my best -- last night, I was entertainer, a politician, or a singer to whose voice you
up until forever o’clock re-recording street names because danced when you got married. A coworker, a neighbor -- a
Pathz somehow screwed up the file from one of my earlier friend.
recordings. I really don’t remember what I wrote for the Dewey has trouble dealing with the people he’s lost, but
ghost essay -- nothing very original. I think it was he had more trouble with ghost of his younger self. He had
something about how our pasts can either enchain or been a professional athlete, strong, robust, and vibrant!
enchant us.” Dewey had grown up in western Conestoga County amidst
Danielle nodded in appreciation. “I’d like to read it, if all the ponds and creeks back when they used to freeze
you don’t mind.” She was thinking that maybe she’d pass solid for the winter. Preschool Dewey first learned to ice
along the writing to her father, Dewey, who seemed have skate by leaning on a hockey stick with a handle that his
been wrestling with just that very choice for decades. father cut down to size, so it wouldn’t be too tall for the
3
tiny tyke. Kids back then grew up playing whichever sports of. The puck rocketed into Dewey’s ankle, deflecting it
were in-season, but Dewey always drifted back to hockey - from the pathway that Dewey’s goalie teammate had
- in the off seasons, he’d be in the driveway, denting their covered; instead, the puck fluttered like a wounded
garage door by slap-shotting rocks, walnuts, and tennis butterfly into the unguarded lower left corner of the net,
balls against it. winning the Stanley Cup for the Canadians.
What got Dewey into the professional level, however, And just like that -- snap! -- Dewey’s
was his ability as a defender. Dewey’s size, coordination, career was over. The puck had managed to
joints and muscles defined him. He rose through the minor shatter his hopes and dreams just sa much
leagues and spent a handful of seasons in the National his distal fibula, one of the three bones that
Hockey League because of his large size, efficient stride, make up the ankle joint. Despite multiple
keen eye for passing to barely-open front liners, and an surgeries and relentless rehab, Dewey could
uncanny ability to slide his body in the right place and time never skate well enough to play competitive
to block an opponent’s shot. Hockey is life! 8 he used to say hockey ever again. Today, Dewey’s stride is
enthusiastically at the end of every practice, no matter how foreshortened by a bum hip, he can’t
exhausting it had been. straighten one arm, his left ankle keeps him
Back then, Dewey reveled in youth -- effervescent with up at nights, and he is hard of hearing.
‘Head and shoulders, knees and toes,’ is an The Stanley Cup
athletic vibrance! Throughout his hockey life, he and his
teammates bonded together through drills and practices, old children’s exercise song, but to Dewey, it feels more
travel and tournaments, weight rooms, games, playoffs and like a musical inventory of what doesn’t work! To be fair, a
post-practice pub visits. Together, they had shed blood, lot of the seniors living at Fallow Farm feel similarly. Many
sweat, and unknown to most of their fans, tears. They of them engage in competitive complaining: the constant
shared stories, secrets, successes, and failures -- all, cafeteria comparison of one’s own medical issues with
seemingly, with their whole lives stretching ahead -- those of your dining partners. But unlike those Fallow
limitless and ascendant! Farmers, Dewey mostly kept himself to himself.
Until it ended. For Dewey, the end came in the last The one person he could talk to about things was
moments of overtime in the seventh and deciding game of Godfrey Swench. The former Methodist-pastor-turned-
the Stanley Cup finals against the hated, Montreal professor-turned-counsellor-turned-philanthropist visited
Canadians. Dewey had skated into one of the four Dewey in his apartment long after he had ended his short
rounded-off corners of the rink. Dewey gathered a loose tenure as the retirement village’s chaplain. Godfrey might
puck and carried it behind his own goal. He looked up the start a conversation about some benign topic, but Dewey’s
ice, expecting to see his teammate Pierre Pierpont streaking athletic heartbreak was never far from the surface.
toward the opposing goal in anticipation of one of Dewey’s Dewey explained once, “It was like being an inch from
patented, long-and-strong passes. your dreams -- and then having them brush past you, like
But fate had another plan. Just as Dewey was about to a stranger in a crowd. At the time, you don’t think much of
snap his wrists to make his stick’s blade propel the puck up it. You know, we just don’t recognize the most significant
the ice, Pierpont’s skate hit an unseen divot in the surface, moments in our lives while they’re happening. Back then, I
tumbling him facedown onto the ice. An opposing thought, ‘well, they’ll be other days.’ I didn’t realize that
Canadian intercepted and zipped right back towards was the only day.”9 Dewey paused, then added, “I wish
Dewey and his goaltender. Dewey raced laterally across the there was a way to know you were in the good old days
ice, diving head-first to block the shot. Which he did. Sort before you actually left them.”10
4
 Dewey went on to have a fine life -- he married, raised ever since he had a conversation with his beloved, yet
his son Danny and daughter Danielle, and worked at the argumentative and contrary cousin, Marcus. It all started
Oxthorn Swench Wheelworks. But the pain of losing around Thanksgiving when, as usual, Opus was struggling
always comes back like lightning every time he hears of the with what to say to his flock on the first of four weekly
passing of an old teammate. It’s not the loss of the Stanley Christmas-season Masses. Marcus asked innocently,
Cup that hurts so much these days, but rather it’s the loss “What’s your Sunday homily going to be about?”
of what he had with his teammates, in grueling practices, Opus answered, “It’s an exposition
on long bus rides or flights, in locker rooms, and on the about Matthew 1:18, ‘Now the birth of
competitive ice. There was a fellowship that bonded those Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as
teammates. his mother Mary was espoused to
And that’s what Dewey came to miss in the long run. Not Joseph, before they came together, she
the emotional highs of wins and the devastation of losses, was found with child of the Holy
but the youthful vibrancy, the camaraderie, the Ghost.’”
belongingness, and the kinship of common purpose. He Marcus giggled, “You know, that Angelico, Fra, The
had heard of other people experiencing the same kind of passage always amuses me.” Annunciation, circa 1440,
thing from their time in the military, or people who toiled Convent of San Marco,
long and hard on a common work project like building a “How so?” Opus asked guardedly. Florence, Italy, fresco

bridge or constructing a skyscraper. Marcus re-quoted, “… she was

Which is why Dewey never watched hockey anymore. found with child of the Holy Ghost.” He raised his
He hasn’t for decades. Back when he tried, he quickly grew eyebrows and asked, “How, pray tell, does one go about
making such a ‘finding’?”
irritated: either the players of today weren’t as skilled as he
recalls he and his teammates were, or, on the contrary, “Marcus!” Opus protested his cousin’s heresy.
they’re much better. He didn’t like either. He’d complain “What?!? I think it’s a perfectly fair question to ask.
that the players needed to practice more and focus on After all, they didn’t have DNA testing back then. And even
fundamentals; or he bemoan that they were faster only if they had such testing, where, pray tell, again, would
because they were pampered or the equipment was better. there have been a DNA sample of the Holy Ghost to
Hockey was no longer ‘life’ for Dewey; instead, the hockey compare it to?? “
of his memory was his own, personal purgatory from Opus predicted soberly, “The gates of hell are calling
which he hadn’t yet escaped. you!”
At one time, Dewey laced up his blades again long Marcus quoted, “‘Hell is empty and all the devils are
enough to teach his granddaughter Daphne how to skate. here.’ Shakespeare, William, playwright, The Tempest, Act
Young Ms. Dauerditter has a lot of her grandfather in her, 1, Scene 2, 1610 C.E.”
or at least in her skates; she started playing on travel teams Opus accused, “You want answers to questions we’re not
long before middle school. But even still, Dewey couldn’t even supposed to ask!”
make himself watch an actual, full game; what he missed
from the past spoiled his present. Marcus rejoined, “ ‘I would rather have questions that
can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.’
Feynman, Richard, physicist, 1981 C.E.”
Over at St. Wenceslas Church, Fr. Opus Magnus had
been pondering ghosts -- or rather, a single, Holy Ghost --
5
 A more contemporary --albeit less important -- Mina asked, “What do they want you to present on?”
physicist, Michael McGregor11 of Yellow Springs, was “It’s that program you helped me with a while back --
equally focused on unanswered questions this holiday the one to spark some interest in school kids about careers
season. With a Ph.D. under his belt, Michael was a in scientific research.”
professor at Oxthorn U where he may spend a lifetime Mina remembered, “I remember that -- didn’t it all start
studying what happened in the first microseconds of someone who asked whether we already knew all that
existence after the Big Bang. Months ago, Michael was there was to know?”
stunned to receive an invitation to give this year’s Faraday
Christmas Lecture series at the Royal Institution of Great “Yeah,” Michael laughed, “and the guy who said that
Britain.12 was the vice-principal!”
“A free trip to London sounds great,” Michael’s wife From that spark, Michael McGregor had developed a
Mina prefaced, “but I’ve never heard of the Faraday presentation about how a lot of what we now think we
Christmas Lectures.” understand about science is different from the past. His
“It’s a big deal in the UK,” Michael explained. “Back in presentation highlighted the need for people to be open to
1825, Michael Faraday was a self-taught chemist and changing what they think they know.
physicist who wanted to do a better job of educating young Mina recalled, “You said something like, ‘You can’t just
people about science. believe what you want to believe because you want to
He persuaded the believe it!’ And then you gave a bunch of examples of
Royal Institution to things people once believed that have been superseded.
sponsor an annual Like the concept of spontaneous generation, which was
lecture aimed at a disproven by Pasteur, right?”
young audience. “Yes -- that particular discovery upset over two
They’ve held an millennia of what had become accepted as truth.”
annual Christmas “And Ptolomy’s geocentric model of the universe with
lecture every year -- the Earth in the middle of it all, which was supplanted by
Faraday himself gave the Copernicus model.”
19 of them during his Michael added, “And in medicine, where the discovery
lifetime. They started of germs disproved the ‘four humours’ theory that had
televising them in the Blaikley, Alexander, Faraday Lecturing at Christmas, constituted ‘medicine’ for thousands of years.”
1960’s, and now you circa 1856, Royal Institution, wood engraving.
can watch them “And I remember your presentation slide about physics -
online. They’re usually - something about how Aristotle said a ‘bunch of stuff that
both informative and really entertaining, too.” everyone believed for about 2000 years.’”
Mina raised an eyebrow, “Then they picked the right Michael paraphrased, “… which was superseded in the
person!” She knew her husband loved to educate an 1600s by Galileo and then Newton, which was embraced
audience with humor and interactive illustrations. for hundreds of years until Einstein pretty much broke
open a whole lot of everything in the early 20th Century.’”
“I don’t know about that,” Michael demurred genuinely.
“The list of past presenters is a Who’s Who Hall of Fame Mina asked, “So now we’ve basically got it all worked
among all the fields of science, from anthropology through out…”
zoology.”
6
 “Completely,” Michael agreed, “except for the smallest visions -- in fact, they seemed ageless, neither young nor
stuff in the Universe, the largest stuff, hot stuff, cold stuff, old in her brain’s disjointed, dissociative synaptic
fast stuff, heavy stuff, near stuff, far stuff, dark stuff, connections.13 In the morning when her husband Denny
turbulence, gravity, and the concept of time!” would ask how she slept, she’d shake her head groggily,
“This is all going to be in your Faraday lecture for kids at saying “I saw the ghosts again….”
Christmas?” Mina asked dubiously. Lonny died just days shy of his 97th birthday. In January,
Michael nodded. “It’s actually a series of three lectures. Lonny was hospitalized for a change-in-mental-status and
They want me to show throughout human history, the dehydration after having been found wandering through
thinkers of tomorrow -- which is what these kids are -- the halls of Fallow Farm in the middle of the night. Then he
they all build on or deconstruct what we claim to ‘know’ had a stint in Rehab, followed by the onset of in-apartment
today. We pass on what we think is knowledge, but in time, aides who carefully attended to Lonny, first in shifts of a
future researchers and thinkers will surpass -- or bypass -- few hours a week, then ramping up to 24/7 in the final
some, or maybe even many of our understandings.” weeks. For months, aides, techs, and nurses throughout
Mina remarked, “That reminds me of that assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice all did their
great song Louie Armstrong recorded, ‘I see best to gently escort Lonny on his final journey. Liesl then
babies cry, I watch them grow, they’ll learn spent the next several months doing all the things that
much more than I’ll ever know….’ You could accompany 21st Century passings: a funeral, interment,
call the lecture, ‘What a Wonderful World. ’” getting letters testamentary from the probate court, and
managing assets and liabilities.
“Not bad,” Michael agreed, “but they One thing that surprised Liesl in the aftermath of her
really want some kind of a seasonal title. Since the lecture
is in England at Christmas time, I was thinking of a father’s loss was learning about the life he lived over at the
Dickensian title, equating the beliefs of yesteryear to the retirement community, Fallow Farm. Liesl had been
‘Ghosts of Knowledge Past.’” overwhelmed by the stories and gracious words shared by
people in her father’s life whom Liesl never knew about. “I
“But you’re talking not just about the history of science - can’t believe how popular my Dad was,” Liesl remarked to
- the past -- but also about the notion that we have to move her Denny. “We visited with him all the time, but I never
forward, beyond that. How about calling your lecture, ‘The knew most of these people who sent us cards or came up to
Ghosts of Christmas Passed’ -- as in things that have been us at the funeral. I remember the same thing when Mom
passed along to us?” died.”
“Yeah,” Denny observed wryly, “it’s like your Mom and
Dad had entire lives without you!”
Over in another slice of the Conestoga County, Liesl “I know!” Liesl exclaimed in wonder, remembering she
Dauber has been seeing ghosts lately. Especially as the made a similar discovery about her kids back when they
holidays approach, her late-parents have been appearing grew up and made friends at school. “There are people and
in her nocturnal visions. Her mother passed nearly a classes and activities that we didn’t know anything about!
decade ago, but Liesl just lost her father Lonny a few What’s that say about us, that we didn’t really share in the
months back. It was when Liesl’s father seemed to be richness of parents lives?”
entering his final chapter that he had begun to appear in
her overnight dreams. Often, Liesl’s mother would show Denny shrugged, “It says that we were busy living our
up, too. But her parents weren’t elderly in Liesl’s nighttime own.”
7
 Still, at Christmas, Liesl keenly felt the loss of her father “I hear you,” Liesl recognized her husband’s point, “but
anew. She is an acclaimed and popular artist, annually how do I decide about what to keep and what to let go? It
painting an outdoor Conestoga County scene which is all has meant so much to them, and some of it means
reprinted and sold throughout the county. Her father had something to me, too. Look,” she picked up one of her
long been the most ardent enthusiast of his daughter’s mother’s childhood scrapbooks, “a program from a school
artwork, telling her every year that this was her ‘finest yet!’ Christmas concert from 80 years ago! Any my father’s
And this year, when she finished her landscape -- she autograph collection, or the scorecard from a baseball
missed showing it to her father. Still, that night, when Liesl game where someone threw a no-hitter.16 And a table that
lay fast asleep, her parents had once again appeared in her my great-grandfather made.”
dreams, with her father repeating, “This is your finest work Denny nodded patiently. “It’s hard, I know.” And Liesl
yet!” knew that he knew -- Denny’s parents died when he was a
Liesel and Denny Dauber’s supply of Christmas young man in his 20’s, leaving him long before he was
ornaments and seasonal decor had doubled from all the prepared to face the world on his own. “But we can’t hold
boxes left behind by her late-parents. onto the past forever,” he said gently. “We can pass along
“See this little, wooden log truck?” Liesl some of your parents’ furniture -- maybe some of the
wistfully recalled. “Dad and Mom got kitchen and workshop items -- to people who could use it,
this at Yosemite on their honeymoon through the Community Warehouse Project17 or the shelter
some 70 years ago.”14 for people in emergency transition. And there’s also the
Tree trimming took twice as long this year for Liesl and consignment shop, if you want to go that route.”
Denny, as each legacy ornament from her parents seemed Liesl knew he was right. But if she consigned her
to have its own memory to tell. There was a delicate glass parents’ things, was she consigning her memories of them,
ball from her great-grandparents, and an angel from the too? Graciously, tenderly, Denny suggested, “Let’s go
neighbors in the house next to the one Liesl grew up in. A through everything to decide what is really going to be
tiny chairlift from her parents’ trip to ski Portillo in Chile.15 meaningful over time, and we’ll keep that. And we can also
A construction paper snowman monstrosity that Liesl had decide what could be useful to other people.”
made in Kindergarten. “And maybe,” Liesl relented, “a third category -- for
And it’s not as if the holiday ornaments are all that Liesl things I’m just not sure about yet. Because,” she looked up,
and Denny have left from her parents. Their dining room, directly into her husband’s eyes, “it feels like a part of me
basement, and the entirety of their two-car garage have died when my parents died.”
been housing all of her late-parents’ earthly possessions -- “I understand” Denny agreed, “I felt -- heck, I still feel
their furniture, wall art, décor, dishware, cookware, that way -- but it seems to me that also a part of them that
workshop tools, clothing, photo albums, and everything stays with us -- even after the furniture and possessions are
else that makes up one’s life. gone.”
Denny has tried to be understanding of what Liesl’ is
experiencing in terms of grief, but he’s grown anxious to
duly dispose of some of the items. “I know you’re an only- At noon on Christmas Eve day, Godfrey Swench once
child, but aren’t there any cousins or nieces or nephews again called on Dewey Dauerditter. “What do you want?”
who might want some of this … uh … stuff?” was the dour greeting he received. “Don’t you have some
‘improving’ to be doing??”

8
 Godfrey indulged his friend. Godfrey is the Executive who made good in the pros. But around the country, you’re
Director of the World Improvement Organization -- WIO, revered as one of the first black players in the league.”18
for short -- a well-funded philanthropy that issues grants Dewey grunted. Every once in a while, he would be
and financial support to particular, do-good organizations contacted by some sports media outlet about him being one
and efforts. “I’m here to take you to the Tannenbaum of the few black NHL players from his era. “My race should
Tournament,” Godfrey began cheerfully. be honored and respected regardless of me having played
“The tanning balm what?!?” hockey,” Dewey said.
Godfrey passed into Dewey’s apartment. “We talked “True, but you endured far more hardships and were
about this last week. It’s the Tannenbaum Tournament -- paid far less money because of your skin color.”
the high school ice hockey series being held over at the “It wasn’t always so bad,” Dewey demurred
Slippery Slopes ice rink.” uncharacteristically. Godfrey knew his friend had put on
Dewey grumbled, “Never heard of it.” his rose-colored glasses when Dewey remarked, “my race
Godfrey persisted. “St. Wencie’s Prep invites three other was never an issue for my teammates.” Dewey paused,
schools to compete against their co-ed ice hockey team in a then added, “most of them, anyway. And most of my
tournament over the holiday break. And I know you know opponents were good with it, too. It was more the opposing
about the tournament because your granddaughter fans and some of the old-time reporters and officials.”
Daphne plays for St. Wencie’s!” “Still, the people here want to honor you, Dewey.”
Dewey groused, “She plays on the front line -- not “Honor? Bah, humbug,” he denounced, and Godfrey
defense, like I did. Anyhow, I don’t watch hockey.” Then he wasn’t sure whether his friend being genuine or if he was
glowered at his old friend, “You, of all people, know why!” making a Dickensian reference.
“I remember,” Godfrey acknowledged, “but there’s Godfrey cajoled, “Come with me to the tournament
something about the tournament that today. It’ll be good for you. It’s ‘For your welfare,’” Godfrey
I didn’t tell you -- I was kind of quoted from Dickens.
hoping to surprise you with it, but if Dewey resisted, “I’d think a quiet afternoon at home
you’re saying you won’t come, I’ll would be better for my welfare.”
have to tell you now. You have to be “Then, my friend, it’d be ‘for your reclamation.’”
there because they’ve got a ceremony Godfrey retorted, again from Dickens, clasping Dewey by
to honor you. They have a video the arm and leading him to the door.
tribute with photos and old film from The UK's Queen Elizabeth II
performs a ceremonial puck drop
your playing days, and they want you in 2002.
to drop the ceremonial first puck
before the game.” Which is how it came to be that over at the ice rink on
“ ‘Honor’ me?” Dewey was baffled. “What for?” the afternoon on Christmas Eve, Yellow Springers from
“You may not like to acknowledge it,” Godfrey near and far gathered to cheer on two high school teams
explained, “but ‘Dewey Dauerditter’ is a legend -- not just and celebrate their local legend, albeit a grumpy one. Liesl
in Conestoga County, but throughout ice hockey.” and Denny Dauber were about to take a seat in the stands
at the center line when Liesl noticed Danny Dauerditter
Dewey waved dismissively, but Godfrey interrupted him. and his bride Penny Packer in the row in front of them.
“Around here, you’re a local legend -- a Yellow Springer
9
 “Hey, Penny -- Merry Christmas! What a big day for carpet towards the center ice circle for the ceremonial
your family -- both for your step-daughter and your dropping of the first-faceoff puck.
father-in-law! I was meaning to reach out to you. You still The rink’s overhead lights dimmed, and for five minutes,
run that moving company, don’t you?” a portable television monitor a center ice and the overhead
“Penny’s Packers,” Penny smiled. “Are you guys scoreboard showed photo and video highlights as Pippa
moving?” she asked. Piper’s familiar, soothing, resonant voice narrated a
“No, but we’ve got a load of furniture -- mostly my thoughtfully sculpted script detailing Dewey Dauerditter’s
dad’s, but also some of what Denny and I have had -- and I hockey life and his role in breaking the color barrier.
need to pass it along to the Community Warehouse,” Liesl Dewey’s eyes glistened as he watched and listened. He
explained. saw photos of some of the most meaningful people in his
“Yeah, we can help, no problem. They do great work past -- his club level coach, the family he billeted with
over there, but I know it’s never easy to let go of that kind while playing junior level in Canada, his minor league
of stuff.” roommate, and the captain of his juniors team. Tears
“Well, you can’t let it hold you back, either,” Liesl dripped from the corners of his eyes as he saw himself --
countered, “and my father would love that his and Mom’s young and strong and fast -- in black and white film clips.
stuff is being used by people who need it. It’s a part of our Dewey may not even have noticed when the video
past that we need to pass along.” images slowed down, pausing on a closeup of him and his
“I’ll check the calendar and text you with our newly-departed, gap-toothed teammate Pierre Pierpont.
availability,” Penny agreed. “And I meant to tell you: I love Pippa Piper read from her script, “Our celebration today
your landscape this year.” Nodding has come just a bit too late to include Dewey’s former
towards Danny, who was looking at teammate Pierre Pierpont, who had planned to be here…”
his daughter Daphne warming up out -- she paused and waited for the next, short video clip to
on the ice, “Don’t tell anyone, but I appear, “but we are honored to invite out to center ice,
think Santa might be leaving a framed Dewey’s four remaining teammates from that beloved
print under the tree!” Stanley Cup playoff team!”
“I’m so glad you like it,” Liesl You could hear a collective gasp from the bleachers as
Bollinger, Richard, "Winter the spotlight focused on four old men -- and their
responded genuinely. Splendor," 2012.
accompanying attendants -- making their way across the
Penny added, “The way you blended red carpet towards where Dewey stood. Pippa Piper
in all the different elements of the barn, the background, continued, “Please give a warm and hearty Yellow Springs
the cloudy sky at sunset -- it’s really something! I’m not art welcome to Hall of Famer, left winger, Phil Farber! ” Her
critic, but I think it’s your finest work yet.” voice went higher, “and series MVP, right winger, Reggie
‘the Rifle’ Reach!” The crowd roared as Pippa’s voice rose,
When the time for warm-ups was up, the six starters for “Hall of Fame goaltender, Earnie Arránt…” Pippa wasn’t
both St. Wencies and the opposing Cardinal O’Meara team sure anyone could hear her over the crowd as she called
remained on their respective blue lines. The crowd arose into the microphone the name of the last former teammate,
from the frosty grandstands and clapped as Dewey “and Hall of Fame centerman, Bob Barke!”19
Dauerditter was introduced. Godfrey Swench escorted his As the crowd cheered and clapped wildly, the spotlight
friend carefully as they walked across a rubber-backed red widened to show the five former teammates gathered in a
10
group hug on the red carpet. In the center of it all, Dewey Farm. To folks here in Yellow Springs. And even more so, to
Dauerditter’s tears streamed down, freezing on the ice. people whose entrance into ice hockey or other sectors of
Never in his wildest dreams would Dewey Dauerditter society has been easier because of what you went through
have imagined his elderly teammates would come to see and accomplished -- and because of the way you went
him in Yellow Springs! They hadn’t all been together since through and accomplished it.”
their late-coach’s funeral more than ten years ago. Beneath Dewey looked down at his feet; he didn’t want Godfrey
the din of the crowd, the teammates in the scrum were to see the tears that had reappeared.
transported back fifty years, to when they were young and Ever the former-sermonizer, Godfrey continued, “You’ve
spry, calling each other by the earthy nicknames they had lived a good life so far, Dewey, but somehow, along the
coined for one another -- a genuine, albeit curious, method way, you got weighed down by your past so much that you
of expressing their deep love and respect for one another. missed out on some of the present. Bringing your
teammates back,” Godfrey nodded at the mini-busload of
increasingly rowdy octogenarian hockey players, “was a
Dewey had not planned to stay for the high school ice way to remind you that your past is what makes you who
hockey game. On their way over, he had warned Godfrey you are in your present. You are a thoughtful, caring,
that he would insist on leaving after the ‘tribute’ ceremony. loving and beloved old son-of-gun. You have a lot to give
“Okay,” Godfrey had agreed, “if you don’t want to stay, I’ll to a lot of people in the years to come.”
bring you back.” But, of course, wild horses couldn’t have “I probably don’t have that many left,” Dewey
dragged Dewey away from his old ‘mates. They watched acknowledged.
the high schoolers battle it out for three, 16-minute
periods, cheering wildly when Dewey’s granddaughter “Who knows how many more any of us really have left!
Daphne passed the puck to an unguarded St. Wencie’s So we better make good use of what we’ve got.”
teammate who slipped the game-winning puck past the Dewey managed to jab at his friend, “So that’s your
Cardinal O’Meara goaltender. homily for Christmas Eve, former-pastor-Godfrey?”
Afterwards, a mini-bus had been arranged to take the Godfrey grinned, then he recited, “No, but this is: Love
retired teammates over to Harry C’s pub for a late- when you can, cry when you have to, be who you must,
afternoon celebration in a reserved room. As the teammates that’s a part of the plan; await your arrival with simple
boarded -- assisted by their aides and attendants -- Dewey survival, and one day, we’ll all understand -- one day, we’ll
looked suspiciously at Godfrey. “You did this, didn’t you?” all understand.”
Godfrey shrugged. Dewey frowned; he didn’t recognize the quotation. “Is
“And are you paying for it all, too?” Dewey asked, that from the Bible?”
already knowing the answer. Godfrey answered, “No -- but maybe it should be….”20
Godfrey patted Dewey on the arm. “The WIO Board
insisted,” he explained. “Transportation, assistance,
lodging, and transportation back home tomorrow.”
“But why?” Dewey asked, genuinely befuddled. “Why
would anyone care about a bunch of old hockey players?”
“Dewey -- you mean a lot to a lot of people! To your
children and grandchildren. To your neighbors at Fallow
11
A tip of my hat … informative and entertaining manner. Michael Faraday conceived and initiated the
1
… to Lou, my late-friend and former neighbor whom I miss daily. Christmas Lecture series in 1825, at a time when organized education for young
2
… to the late, great Paoli Hardware store that closed this year, depriving us of a people was scarce. Michael Faraday believed, "Nothing is too wonderful to be true if
store just like Flegelhoffers. it be consistent with the laws of nature." Although he had little formal education, is
3
… to my old, Snappy Boy sled which I had for over 50 years. one of the most influential scientists in history. He discovered the principles of
4
… to a soon-to-be college graduate -- offspring of a work colleague who has plenty electromagnetic induction and diamagnetism, and the laws of electrolysis. As a
of reason to boast about the student’s accomplishments in communications and chemist he discovered benzene and an early form of the Bunsen burner as well as
everything else. several other accomplishments that are too complicated for me to understand.
5 13
… to a soon-to-be college graduate -- offspring of a work colleague who has plenty … to my late-parents, whom I have ‘seen’ a lot in my sleep both before and after
of reason to boast about the student’s accomplishments in communications and my mom passed (in 2015) and my dad passed (this past summer of 2024).
14
everything else. … my parents, who purchased a 6” wooden log truck like this in 1954 on their
6
… to Waze and other mapping programs that keep me from getting lost. honeymoon trip; the log truck lives on in my home’s Christmas village.
7 15
… to my friends who have managed some of the senior housing and healthcare … to a song entitled, “What’ll We Do (When the Snow’s All Gone) by the late-folk
organizations I’ve worked with -- they work round-the-clock…. singer, Bob Gibson, whose whimsical 1959 LP Ski Songs helped nurture my parents’
8
… to the life-affirming series, “Ted Lasso.” affection for descending snowy wintry mountains; come to think of it, the album
9
…to the profound wisdom of Archie “Moonlight” Graham, as portrayed by the nurtured mine, and perhaps my offspring’s, too.
16
… to the scorecard from the 1964 no-hitter thrown by Sandy Koufax against the
Phillies, which my father, a lifelong fan of the Dodgers since their days in my
father’s native Brooklyn, attended and kept score of.
17
… the Community Warehouse Project of Chester County, to which was donated
redundant furnishings from my late-father, and my late-first-cousin-once-removed; if
you have furniture that could help someone who needs help, I’d urge you to go to
late-Burt Lancaster in Field of Dreams.
10 https://communitywarehouseproject.com/.
…to the similarly apt wisdom of “Andy Bernard” (actor Ed Helms) in The Office, 18
… to people who integrated sports -- and, really, all aspects -- of society. My
father was a great admirer of Jackie Robinson. In ice hockey, Willie O’Ree broke the
color barrier -- or at least put a dent in it -- by playing two games for the Boston
Bruins in January 1958. He had been a minor league replacement for an injured
player and was returned to the minors quickly. O’Ree endured horrific racism
throughout his career in hockey in both Canada and the US, including his return to
season 9, episode 25, The Finale. the Bruins for most of the 1960-61 season. He was the only black person to play in
11
… my 2008 Yellow Springs story, “Santa Time,” wherein I used this same the NHL until two men in the mid-1970’s. O’Ree is in the Hockey Hall of Fame for
character, Michael McDonald, to give a plausible time-space continuum explanation his role in integrating the sport.
for how Santa Claus does his job all in one night; like the character, one of my 19
… to the great Flyers teams which won two Stanley Cups in the early 1970’s.
children has gone on to graduate level physics. 20
… the great, and, sadly, late-Dan Fogelberg, whose song Part of the Plan -- from
12
… the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, a series of lectures which have been which the quote derives -- was on his second studio album, Souvenirs, released in
held at the Royal Institution in London every peacetime and almost every wartime 1974.
year since 1825. The lectures present scientific subjects to young people in an

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