Battle of a Lifetime!

For me this story began back in 1983,my 2nd year as an assistant football coach at Manchester/Essex High School. We were having a staff meeting prior to the new season when then head coach Fran York said to me "Albert,I got a project for you! He's a fellow Gloucesterite"! York added "He's big,he's a character and he lives and breathes football"! A few days later and of all places to meet this new player was the weight room. It was the time we hand out the eqiupment. With upper classmen picking first there is not much left to choose from size wise for the freshmen. Through the door the wide eyed freshmen shyly explore the boxes. About half of them try on shoulder pads and put them on backwards! But one freshman looks as if he's been here before, not afraid to dive into the boxes and grab what looks close to fitting him. He kinda acts like a frenzied shopper on the biggest sale of the year! Nothing fits, shoulder pads, helmets, cleats. He sizes up other freshmen with gear for a possible trade, but no one is his size. It looks like I'm taking this behemouth to see Jack at Palazola's Sporting Goods Store. Duncan Ryan is his name and at 240 lbs this freshman is about to take the gridiron.
Duncan was a better than average high school football player,he knew the game.Smart and tough,a coaches dream. But one battle that he fought through his High School career was in weight. Even though he had a very good junior year his weight was approaching 280 lbs. With hard work during the summer he brought it down to around 190 lbs !
I lost track of Duncan over the years but when I started a new job at Bomco there he was. Me the inspector and Duncan making parts. This time he was big, up to I'd say 300 lbs. Back around April of "07" he was around 450 lbs! It was getting tough for him to breath at times,and after several years of asking him to go for walks every day I was now telling him to. Nope,he wasn't going to change.Then in the morning of January 3rd of this year I saw him at his machine with the biggest MacDonalds bag they have.It was filled with pancakes, hashbrowns and everything else they carry for breakfast! I told him right then and there "If you eat that, you'll never see your kids graduate high school"! He ate it! Then that night walking up the stairs at home he couldn't breath!His wife Kristin rushed him up to AGH where for a couple of days they treated him for a possible heart attack. Further testing revealed he had pneumonia.For awhile it was touch and go.When they had him stabilized it was no food for three days...IV only. He fought with his wife to bring him a fribble, sandwiches, chips anything! No dice she wouldn't give in. A week later he was released from the hospital and returned to work. What I couldn't do to motivate him his children and wife did. With diet and exercise 480 lbs slowly began to fade. Hitting the "Y" after work everyday and long walks Duncan has done the impossible! He's now at 217 lbs! He went from a 64" waist to 36"! And there's no one as proud as his wife Kristin,5 year old daughter Laura and his son 14 year old Sumner. Oh...this "old" coach is proud of him too!

From Afternoon to Evening!

The following photos are from yesterday and today. I was at a wedding today and when I got home I took my nephew to Niles Beach to get some sunset shots. When we got there I discovered my ship had come in! Boy would I love to own that! But I'd have to start taking donations just to think about it! Reality is I have to be satisfied just living here and I couldn't think of another place where that yacht would look so good.
The 1st pic below is my nephew Mike.....I told him he makes a good eclipse!

What A Day !

Something that we havn't seen in awhile,a stretch of good weather! Great day to be on the water that's for sure. And like every day out there the scenery changes.It's nice to see the schooner "Adventure" out of her berth and exposed for all to see from a boat.The schooner "Spirit of Massachusetts" is undergoing some work at Rose's.
Hopefully she'll be ready for the Gloucester Schooner Festival. The fishing vessel "Princess Laura" steamed out of the harbor...then steamed back! Maybe they realized that it's bad Karma to head out fishing on a Friday!

I'm Gearing Up !

August 29 thru the 31st is the 24th annual Gloucester Schooner Festival.A sea of masts will dominate the skyline as schooners and other tall ships make Gloucester their port of call for the weekend.I thought I'd offer a sneak peek of what it's like from years past.

Gloucester Shines !

Another day and another thunderstorm.The big question is will it pass before Gloucester's 1st ever block party? Checking the skies around 4:00 pm clouds billowed on the horizon.Looking across town from East Gloucester,the approaching storm started to flex it's muscles.After it passed,in plenty of time for a party,I headed to Good Harbor beach for some shots then over to Niles Beach.As far as the block party went..... I think it's gonna be around for awhile! A few buisness owners I talked to said they had a great night....better than the Fiesta! And Joey C.(Good Morning Gloucester and Capt. Joe & Sons Lobster) one of the organizers was there with his slide show!Great way to spend a summer night! Way to go Joe!