Rod's List

          A Few Recollections, and 75 things we like about Mike

A few things from the past stick in the mind (but not guaranteed accurate): 

In Grade 8 (roughly 60 years ago), Mike, tasked to use the word 'tendentious' in a sentence, offered "Olive's breasts were tendentiously high, firm and well-separated." 

Robbed in early high school years of his closing line "Now I know the importance of being Ernest" by my premature closing of the curtain—despite the attempt of Miss Langridge hanging on the curtain rope to forestall me—Mike offered me condolences for my mistake, rather than condemnation for my theft of his spotlight moment. 

Robbed later in high school of fame for his adaptation of Julius Caesar, the one that introduced the character of Little Caesar to clear the stage at the close, by my failure to deliver my one line audibly, Mike was again accepting of my incompetence (though I believe he lost that tolerance with respect to politicians in all places later on). 

Much later, in the Elder College role he created to back Alice Munro in cage matches against all comers—even Mavis Gallant—Mike returned to the tolerant classroom persona that clashed so violently with his moments of political commentary.

75 things we like about Mike in his 75^th year (to be completed by others on the blog):
1.    1, the rants (of course)
2.     2.the plantain breakfasts (of course)
3.     3.the turkey mole
4.    4. the inspirational guidance to aspiring young chefs
5.     5. his communion with Victor 

          6. his espresso (WHAT!? sugar! Hrrrumph)

          7. the gusto in which he embraced...everything. 
             (Anonymous)

2. 8. the logs he loves to move on the beach he loves to tromp across to get at them and the grimace he loves to make every time he lifts one.
   (Terence Young)

   
   

   9. his welcoming, generous and caring nature
   10. his honesty (whether we want his opinion or not
   11. his imagination and creativity
   (niece Leah, with love and admiration)

   
   
   12.The fact that he knows even less about septic tanks than me.
   (Dag Goering)

   
   

   13. his pruning technique (or, how not to be intimidated just because it’s bigger than you)
   14. his letters, and his insistence on writing them to a digital world
   15. the way his eyes light up just before an especially good rant
   16. his delight when you accept a second helping
   17. the comments he offered on my graduate English essays(with love, niece Darcy)

     

   
   

   18. the way he wouldn't dream of harvesting logs from across the invisible border on the beach: Those are Sprout logs! (we wouldn't have minded)

   (Frances Sprout)

   
   

   
   

   19.  the fact that he created a Fetish. To guard the house or maybe to protect his logs or keep his septic pump going or just because?
   20.  that he was delighted to receive 5 gallons of kidney beans for his birthday
   21.  he could rant and rave and yet be gentle in editing

   (Liz HK)

   
   

   
   

   22. his unbeatable homemade salsa

   23. his disdain for sentimentality

   24. his lavish improvidence

   25. his encyclopedic command of trivial facts

   26. his love of dimes because they fit so neatly into his coinsaver

   27. his utter lack of elitism, sexism, racism, or most other "isms"...though he does admire prisms.

   28. his magnificent collection of pens.  And glasses.

   (Carol & Alison) 

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   29. His strength.

   
   

   
   
   
   
   

   

   30. His laugh.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   31. His tableaux - and the gusto he brings to all performances.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   32. His love of the arts, from the Bard, to basketball.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   33. The born teacher in him.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   34. His appreciation of the little things, as well as the big ones.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   35. Himself.
   
   

   (niece Lauren)


35. His disgust with the use of the word "multiple" or of any large word when a smaller one would do as well.
36. His big expressive hands, too large to be fitted with gloves.
37. His long arms that can reach the highest shelves
38. His long eyelases that he gave to his daughter and grandaughter
39. His dislike of anything cute
40. His love of everything grandly Mozartian

(Carol)

41. That he married Carol (I like this for two reasons. It demonstrates that he was smart enough to recognize what an amazing woman Carol is, and it made him part of our extended family)
42. That he and Carol raised an amazing daughter
43. The way his eyes light up when he talks about Charlotte
44. That his profound love for his family is evident in everything he says and does
45. That he has touched the lives of so many family members, friends, colleagues and students
46. That he is, without a doubt, leaving this world a better place than he found it
(niece Leah)

47. his no nonsense "stomp stomp stomp, splash" into the bay!
48. his subtle ;) warnings to my dog Henry about where each dog gets to go/bark where when visiting the bay.
49. his influence on my 10 year career as a bad ass chef!
50. that he shared his summer visitors with my little brother and me for years(and fed us, and made us feel pretty special)
(Megan Sprout)

51. His concern about dishes touching in the dishwasher.
52. "Smuggy, smuggy, smuggy!"

(son-in-law Alex)

 



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